92 WASPS AND THEIR WAYS 



sharpen their stings by friction, as we 

 sharpen a knife by rubbing the edge 

 against an oil-stone. 



According to /Elianus too, the wasp did 

 not always find its sting capable of pre- 

 serving it from harm, for the wily fox 

 out-witted the angry Vespa and ate up 

 its nest. MofTett has thus translated the 

 story in his own picturesque style: 



" Reynard the Fox, likewise, who is so 

 full of his wiles and crafty shifting, is re- 

 ported to be in wait to betray Wasps after 

 this sort. The wily thief thrusteth his 

 bushy tail into the Wasp's nest, there 

 holding it so long until he perceives it 

 to be full of them, then drawing it slily 

 forth, he beateth and smiteth his tail full 

 of wasps against the next stone or tree, 

 never resting so long as he seeth any of 

 them alive ; and thus playing his Fox like 

 parts many times together, at last he 

 setteth upon their combs, devouring all 

 that he can finde." 



