Chapter I.--_The Nest._--The Microscope and Telescope--Terror

caused by Insects--Death-watch--Life-boat of Eggs--The Water Beetle--Floating Ark of Eggs--The Gnat--her difficulties--her Egg-raft--The Sand-boring Wasp--Towers of rubbish--Captive Caterpillars--Wood-boring Bee--An Insect Nursery--Escape of the young--Tapestry Bee--A Nest lined with Poppy-flower Petals--Enchanted Leaf-tubes--The spell broken--The Insect Sorcerer--Nest of Down made by a Moth--The Lackey Moth--The Ichneumons--Their usefulness 1