NATURAL HISTORY. 503 



builds its nest in the hollows of trees. A deserted hut is a 

 favourite spot, and when occupied by a full nest of hornets, is 

 not particularly safe to enter,* as the sting of this insect is 

 peculiarly severe. It feeds upon other insects, and even attacks 

 and devours the formidable wasp. 



The COMMON WASP builds its nest in the ground, usually 

 in banks. The comb is laid horizontally, and not vertically 

 like those of the bee. As the cells are made of paper, they 

 will not hold honey, nor does the wasp endeavour to collect 

 honey, although it is very fond of it, and never loses an op- 

 portunity of robbing a bee-hive, although its natural food is 

 flies or other animal substances. Nor does it despise sugar, 

 as every grocer's window testifies. Yeiy few wasps survive 

 the winter, and those who do, immediately set about forming 

 a new nest. Only a few cells are made at first, but the number 

 rapidly increases, until the nest is furnished with about sixteen 

 thousand cells. 



Some wasps build nests upon the branches of trees, and others 

 suspend them from the branches. 



THE BE E. 



This useful little creature is so well known that a lengthened 

 description of it would be useless. A merely general sketch 

 will be quite sufficient. 



The cells of the bee are, as is well known, made of wax. 

 This wax is" secreted in the form of scales under six little flaps 

 situated on the under side of the insect. It is then pulled out 

 by the bee, and moulded with other scales until a tenacious 

 piece of wax is formed. The yellow substance on the legs of 

 the bees is the pollen of flowers. This is kneaded up by the 

 bees, and is called bee-bread. 



The cells are six-sided, a form which gives the greatest 

 space and strength with the least amount of material, but the 



* In 1847, while on an entomological excursion in Eagley Wood, I saw five hornets 

 sitting in a row, gnawing a dead branch. I was rather fearful of disturbing them, 

 but at the same time, they were much wanted for a museum. They were all secured 

 by tapping each in succession with a twig, and receiving it in my net as it flew off 

 Each bit a hole in the net, whi<5h had to be repaired before it could be used a^am 

 with safety. 



