64 WASPS AND THEIR WAYS 



nests. The wasps were sacrificed in order 

 to save the fruit in the fall from their 

 depredations. The fruit was spared, but 

 for two years the estate " was infested, like 

 Egypt, with a plague of flies." 



Doubtless wasps are valuable scavengers 

 in hot countries, where they are very 

 numerous, and where they have been 

 known to consume large quantities of 

 refuse, and even to keep the butchers' 

 stalls sweet and clean. In our country 

 the wasps that live near human habitations 

 do their share as scavengers. Once these 

 little insect vultures were observed to clean 



the bones of a dead mouse in 



two days. 



An interesting writer in a 



British periodical tells of sitting 

 in the open air and being visited by wasps 

 that wished to share his lunch. The first 

 day they were some time finding the lunch- 

 bag, but the next day they recognised it 

 and their entertainer, and were on hand 



