1897-98-] Wasps: Their Life-History and Habits. 349 



to do with varieties, as there were all possible shades, from 

 nearly yellow to black — i.e., with broad yellow bands and 

 narrow strips of black, and vice versd. I have had them build 

 their nests in boxes, and have then turned the boxes on their 

 sides, or even upside down. If this was done early in the 

 season, and the combs were small, the little workers would 

 begin to build new cells with the mouths at the lower end ; 

 but if done later in the season, they seemed perfectly content 

 to go on with the cells upside down or on their sides. I 

 have, by an arrangement of entrance tubes, sent the wasps of 

 one nest into the other, and there was such a commotion and 

 fighting ; but, strange to say, I never noticed any killed, and 

 next day they were going on as if nothing had happened. If 

 this were done with bees, half of them would be slaughtered. 

 I have also set queen wasps to fight with each other, but never 

 saw them continue till the death of one, as queen bees do. 



I do not think there is another insect with such varied 

 tastes in feeding as the wasp. We may safely say that 

 wasps will eat everything, be it tasteless, salt, sweet, acid, or 

 any mixture of flavours. If they come upon, say, a mouse, or 

 a bird, newly killed, and fresh blood about, then the wasp will 

 have a drink of it. If there should be a bit of raw flesh, 

 she will be at it. Whether it be fresh fish or salt herring, it 

 is all the same to the wasp ; and she will leave the salt 

 herring and take the next mouthful from a honey jar if she 

 can get it. Fruit of every kind she consumes and destroys, 

 and it is astonishing how quickly a few of them can clean out 

 a peach, plum, or pear. Many a time I have plucked a fruit 

 which, to all appearance, was sound, but on taking it in my 

 hand, I found it was only the skin of the fruit with a small hole 

 at the back, while inside were from sixty to a hundred wasps, 

 so firmly packed that one wondered how ever they got in. 



It may not be out of place to say something regarding the 

 stinging propensities of wasps. To do anything about a 

 wasp's nest without first closing the door is a sure way of 

 getting a very warm reception. A hanging nest had better 

 be given a wide berth, seeing it cannot be closed in. If you 

 have once disturbed the wasps, you cannot get too quickly out 

 of the sight of their nest : if they cannot see you from the en- 

 trance, you are not so apt to get stung. I once observed a very 

 large nest up a tree, some twenty feet from the ground. Tying 



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