the picture, you will see how the comb is fastened to the roof or a 

 tree or to the under side of a stone. 



As soon as the cells are completed the mother lays an egg in each. 

 From these eggs larvae are hatched. They are fed by the mother 

 until they become pupse. The cells are sealed over while the wasps 

 are in the papa state. They have to break open the seals before 

 they can come out. 



All of the first brood are workers. As soon as tliey are hatched 

 the mother has nothing to do but to provide eggs. They clean out 

 the cells in which they passed their early days ; they make additions to 

 the nests ; they take care of the young. Do you remember how the 

 Yespa workers prepared food for the larvse in their colony and what 

 they fed them ? The young Polistes are cared for in the same way. 



You may see the workers flying about in your garden this 

 summer, getting the sweets from the flowers that you have planted. 

 You will know why they are so busy through the long sunny days. 

 You will think of the hungry little wasps waiting for their dinner. 

 You will wonder whether they put their heads out of the cells when 

 the workers feed tliem. 



I^EST OF Polistes. 



Compare the nest of Polistes with that of Yespa. 



In what ways do they differ ? 



."Where did you find the nest ? 



How was it held in place ? 



How many cells are there in it ? 



Kotice the pieces of the seals which still remain on the nest. 

 Tell us whether they are made of the same material as the cells. 

 Of what use are the seals ? 



A BUTTERFLY IN WINTER. 



When a warm February or March day comes you may see one of 



the first messengers of spring — the Mourning-cloak butterfly. It 



has been in some dark corner all winter, probably in your cellar, 



and seems glad to come out into the warm soft air. This butterfly 



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