102 



NATURAL HISTORY. 



[CH. VI. 



1 The exterior of the vespiary. 



2 Interior of the same. ' 



3 The position of a pillar. 



but differ in this respect from those of the bee, that 

 one comb contains only one set of cells, whereas, 

 it will be remembered, the bee contrives to have a 

 double row in each comb. The cells contain neither 

 honey- nor wax, but are solely constructed to lodge 

 the young; the combs are of unequal dimensions, 

 regulated by the diameters of the various parts of 

 the globular envelope, the uppermost not being per- 

 haps more than two inches, while that which is 

 placed in the middle measures twelve inches in dia- 

 meter. It is calculated that, on an average, a ves- 

 piary may contain about sixteen thousand cells, 

 which, as they are filled thrice in each year, will 

 give some idea of the prodigious fertility of these 

 creatures. 



