171 



SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANEA. 



Wasps in Spring — It is generally understood that the Wasps seen in the 

 spring are all females, impregnated the previous winter and destined to con- 

 tinue their race, by becoming each the founder of a nest; from which, before 

 the close of the autumn, myriads are poured fourth to carry on a warfare of 

 rapine on our fruits and larders. On the supposition that this theory is true 

 to the letter, it is obvious that the destruction of these insects in the early 

 part of the season is a matter of no small importance ; the following state- 

 ment may, therefore, prove acceptable, as drawing the attention of naturalists 

 to the haunts of these marauders at a period when the capture of one indivi- 

 dual may prevent the appearance of thousands. About the middle of May, 

 when, it will be recollected, a burst of fine seasonable weather succeeded a 

 series of cold northerly and easterly winds, I observed from an hour or two 

 before sunset till dusk, that a close-clipped hedge, composed of thorns, hollies, 

 and sweet briar, was the common resort of an immense number of wasps. 

 From all quarters they appeared to assemble to this favourite spot, as their 

 resting place for the night — wheeling inwards from the fields round about, 

 they hovered for a few moments over the top or sides, and then dived into 

 the interior ; from whence throughout the whole length of the hedge, extend- 

 ing to about forty yards, a constant humming issued, nearly as powerful as 

 that from a hive of bees; I am confident that I speak considerably within 

 compass, when I state that in the course of ten or twelve minutes, I observed 

 above one hundred take up their night quarters in this retreat. As their 

 flight was rapid, betokening full vigour and health, it was not easy to arrest 

 them as they flew by ; but availing myself of their short pause when hover- 

 ing an inch or two over the projecting leaves, I caught several with a pair of 

 nippers — and no doubt a more persevering or more adroit practitioner might 

 have destroyed as many in an hour as would have depopulated his whole 

 garden in the course of a season. 



I should further observe, that, by the latter end of the month, the num- 

 ber of the evening visitors was considerably diminished ; probably (as I took 

 on the 29th a nest of small size with about a dozen of larva) because the 

 great body had by that time formed their establishments, and no longer 

 required the sheltered retreat of the hedge. The above notice may appear 

 trivial; but I trust that by an observer of nature, it will not be so considered^ 

 since it may lead to a close investigation of the habits of these insects, and 

 furnish hints for their destruction, before that rapid increase which a few 

 weeks later sets the exertion of their enemies at defiance. — E. S. 



New Central Society of Education — The prospectus of a New 

 Central Society of Education has been recently published. The object of the 

 Society is to collect, to classify, and to diffuse information concerning the 

 education of all classes in every department : for the attainment of this, the 

 Society proposes to obtain, and from time to time (probably periodically) to 

 publish, — 1st. Accounts of systems of education already established, whether 

 in this country or abroad ; — 2nd. Discussion of the value of various branches 

 and means of education ; — 3rd. Accounts of books, maps, models, and other 

 aids of education. The labours of the Committee will divide themselves 

 under five principal heads :— 1. Primary or Elementary Education — 2. Se- 



