60 



WASPS AND THEIR WAYS 



and after this another and another, until a 

 dozen or more wasps had sallied forth tail 

 first in a triumphant, touch-me-^if-you-dare 

 procession. 



Since the cause of their disturbance was 

 out of sight the clever wasps, fearing to 

 come out head first and thus put them- 

 selves at disadvantage to a possible foe, 

 preferred the exercise of military tactics 

 that though simple were sufficient. 



Vespa requires strong jaws, for with 



them she does most of the hard work of 



V I I a wasp's life, from cutting up solid 



Vn^^-A/ food to chewing wood fibre into paper 



^'^^ pulp for nest-building purposes. 



And they are strong, large, toothed and 

 horny in substance, joined to the sides 

 of the head below the eyes, and, as is usual 

 in insects, working sideways. 



She likes to vary her diet of fruits and 

 sweets with an occasional insect, which 



