110 PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 



The workers are the most numerous, and to us the only 

 troublesome part of the community ; upon whom devolves 

 the main business of the nest. In the summer and au- 

 tumnal months, they go forth by myriads into the neigh- 

 bouring country to collect provisions ; and on their re- 

 turn to the common den, after reserving a sufficiency for 

 the nutriment of the young brood, they divide the spoil 

 with great impartiality ; — part being given to the females, 

 part to the males, and part to those workers that have 

 been engaged in extending and fortifying the vespiary. 

 This division is voluntarily made, without the slightest 

 symptom of compulsion. Several wasps assemble round 

 each of the returning workers, and receive their respective 

 portions. It is curious and interesting to observe their 

 motions upon this occasion. As soon as a wasp, that 

 has been filling itself with the juice of fruits, arrives at the 

 nest, it perches upon the top, and disgorging a drop of 

 its saccharine fluid, is attended sometimes by two at once, 

 who share the treasure : this being thus distributed, a se- 

 cond and sometimes a third drop is produced, which falls 

 to the lot of others. 



Another principal employment of the workers is the 

 enlarging and repairing of the nest. It is extremely 

 amusing to see them engaged upon this foliaceous co- 

 vering. They work with great celerity ; and though a 

 large number are occupied at the same time, there is not 

 the least confusion. Each individual has its portion of 

 work assigned to it, extending from an inch to an inch 

 and a half, and is furnished with a ball of ligneous fibre, 

 scraped or rather plucked by its powerful jaws from posts, 

 rails, and the like. This is carried in its mouth, and is 

 thus ready for immediate u^e : — but upon this subject I 



