128 WASPS AND THEIR WAYS 



Very soon the interior of a nest aban- 

 doned by the great mass of inhabitants 

 becomes unfit for the habitation of the 

 hibernating queens. 



It becomes damp and mouldy inside, 

 and is taken possession of by all sorts of 

 vermin. Moreover, the fierce winter blasts 

 blow these delicate fabrics to pieces, so 

 that it is usually impossible to find a last 

 year's wasp-nest, no matter how plentiful 

 the nests may have been. 



On rare occasions a nest in a very shel- 

 tered dry spot may escape destruction, and 

 it is possible that queens may occasionally 

 winter in these nests, though such an occur- 

 rence is a rare exception, if it ever happens. 



Although it is within comparatively 

 recent times that the habits of the social 

 wasps have been scientifically studied, yet 

 the ancients were not unobservant of these 

 interesting insects. 



Indeed, Aristotle, in his *' History of Ani- 

 mals," has given a very admirable account 



