THE MINERS 309 



insects are stored in a burrow, the im- 

 mense number of wasps using them acts 

 as a check to the insect pests. Aphides, 

 caterpillars, beetles, bugs, numberless de- 

 structive creatures are laid to rest in the 

 nests of the wasps. 



The wasp has its place in the scheme of 

 the world, and but for it the hordes of 

 insects destructive to vegetation might lay 

 waste the gardens of the earth, even to the 

 discomfiture of proud man himself. 



Then all honour to the little wasps, 

 whose influence in human society may in 

 its own sphere be as important and as far- 

 reaching as that of more powerful-seeming 

 forces. 



All honour to the little wasps, who, a 

 link in the endless chain of living things, 

 are doing their work and helping to make 

 possible that higher civilisation which man 

 fondly believes belongs to himself alone. 



