118 WASPS AND THEIR WAYS 



other, each floor having attached to its 

 under side a large number of cells opening 

 mouth down. 



The same cells are generally used two or 

 three times, for as soon as one brood is 

 hatched the cells are cleaned and put in 

 repair by the workers and more eggs are 

 laid in them by the queen. 



The first cells built are smaller than 

 those in the later combs. As the colony 

 prospers, it becomes generous in its treat- 

 ment of the new members. The cells 

 built by the many industrious workers are 

 larger, and their well-fed occupants are 

 also larger; indeed towards the end of the 

 season there sometimes come forth large 

 and portly workers that approximate the 

 queen in size. 



