THE WASP. 215 



to excite the compassion and extract the 

 money of the spectators. 



Vespa. — Wasp. 



The common Wasp, or Vespa vulgaris, 

 is known to every one. The nest of this 

 insect is a highly curious structure ; and 

 is prepared beneath the surface of some dry 

 bank, or other convenient situation. Its 

 shape is that of an upright oval, often mea- 

 suring ten or twelve inches at least in dia- 

 meter : it consist of several horizontal stages 

 or stories of hexagonal cells, the interstices of 

 each story being connected at intervals by 

 upright pillars : and the exterior surface of 

 the nest consists of a great many layers or 

 pieces disposed over each other in such a 

 manner as best to secure the interior cavity 

 from the effects of cold and moisture ; the 

 whole nest, comprisino- both walls ; nd cells, is 

 composed of a subotance very r-iich resemb- 

 ling the coarse kinds of whitish brown paper, 

 and consists of the fibres of various dry vege- 



