HO PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 



only troublesome part of the community ; upon whom 

 devolves the main business of the nest. In the sum- 

 mer and autumnal months, they go forth by myriads 

 into the neighbouring country to collect provisions ; 

 and on their return to the common den, after reserving 

 a sufficiency for the nutriment of the young brood, they 

 divide the spoil with great impartiality ; — part is given 

 to the females, part to the males, and part to those 

 workers that have been engaged in extending and for- 

 tifying 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 at- 

 tended sometimes by two at once, who share the trea- 

 sure : this being thus distributed, a second and some- 

 times 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 its foliaceous co- 

 vering. They work with great celerity: and though 

 a large number is occupied at the same time, there is 

 not the least c nfusion. Each individual has its por- 

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

 an inch and a half, and is furnished with a ball of ligne- 

 ous 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 use : — but upou 



