VESPA'S STING 85 



was sufficient provocation for every attack, 

 notwithstanding /Elianus' assertion about 

 the wasps that ** by nature they are great 

 fighters, eager, boysterous, and vehemently 

 tempestuous." 



Our hornets are pleasant enough when 

 let alone, but they will not bear an injury 

 with patience, and Moffett is quite right 

 when he says, — 



" Whosoever dare be so knack-hardy as 

 to come near their houses or dwelling 

 places, and to oflFer any violence or hurt to 

 the same, at the noyse of some one of 

 them all the whole swarm rusheth out, 

 being put into an amazed fear, to help 

 their fellow-citizens and do so busily be- 

 stir themselves about the ears of their 

 molesters, as that they send them away 

 packing with more than ordinary pace." 



The hornets of Eastern countries are 

 larger than those of our own part of the 

 world, and seem to have a hotter temper, so 

 that travellers in the East have often been 



