THE MINERS 307 



jackets and hornets to swell the num- 

 bers. 



That wasps are capable of enjoying 

 themselves, no one can doubt who has 

 watched them at this time of year. 



Once a hornet was watched in holiday 

 mood, eating a fly while hanging by one 

 foot to a twig. 



" The half-eaten fly was held by the 

 front feet, while the other legs and the 

 wings stuck out carelessly in all directions. 

 As the mandibles or jaws and the antennae 

 kept in rapid motion, and the fly was 

 turned over and over by the fore-feet, the 

 wasp swung slowly back and forth with the 

 same appearance of enjoyment and comfort 

 as a man eating an apple in a hammock." 



Nor has the solitary wasp been wholly 

 neglected by the ancients; with them it 

 too had its use, for Moffett says, — 



'' Pliny greatly commendeth the solitary 

 Wasp to be very effectual against a Quar- 



