Chap. 26.] THE SILK-WORM. 25 



the other hornets, which seem not to be so noxious, there are two 

 kinds ; the working ones, which are smaller in size and die in 

 the winter ; and the parent hornets, which live two years ; 

 these last, indeed, are quite harmless. 79 In spring they build 

 their nests, which have generally four entrances, and here it is 

 that the working hornets are produced : after these have been 

 hatched they form other nests of larger size, in which to bring 

 forth the parents of the future generation. From this time 

 the working hornets begin to follow their vocation, and apply 

 themselves to supplying the others with food. The parent 

 hornets are of larger size than the others, and it is very doubt- 

 ful whether they have a sting, as it is never to be seen 

 protruded. These races, too, have their drones. Some persons 

 are of opinion that all these insects lose their stings in the 

 winter. Neither hornets nor wasps have a king, nor do they 

 ever congregate in swarms ; but their numbers are recruited by 

 fresh offspring from time to time. 



CHAP. 25. (22.) THE BOMBYX OF ASSYRIA. 



A fourth class of this kind 80 of insect is the bombyx, 81 which 

 is a native of Assyria, and is of larger size than any of those 

 which have been previously mentioned. They construct their 

 nests of a kind of mud which has the appearance of salt, and 

 then fasten them to a stone, where they become so hard, that 

 it is scarcely possible to penetrate them with a dart even. 

 In these nests they make wax, in larger quantities than bees, 

 and the grub which they then produce is larger. 



CHAP. 26. — THE LAEViE OE THE SILK-WOBM — WHO FIBST INVENTED 



SILK CLOTHS. 



There is another class also of these insects produced in quite 

 a different manner. These last spring from a grub of larger 

 size, with two horns of very peculiar appearance. The 

 larva then becomes a caterpillar, after which it assumes the 

 state in which it is known as hombylis, then that called necy- 

 dalus, and after that, in six months, it becomes a silk-worm. 82 



79 Cuvier says that it is the males, and not the females, that have no sting. 



80 What modern naturalists call the " Hymenoptera." 



81 Some kind of wasp, or, as Cuvier says, probably the mason bee. 



82 Called " bombyx " also ; though, as Cuvier remarks, of a kind al- 

 together different from the preceding one. 



