116 PETER COLLINSON [1738. 



October. If I had sent them then directly into the country, I 

 had saved them ; but I thought keeping them in town, I could 

 better secure them from the cold, and so I lost them all, which I 

 was sorry for ; being, I am persuaded, the first that ever hatched 

 in England. But I take it, the warmth of the ship contributed 

 much to it, and supplied the want of your sun's heat. 



The Terrapins I gave to Lord Petre ; and he thanks thee for 

 them. 



Doctor Dillenius thanks thee for the seeds and specimens. 

 Thy observation on your Pines is remarkable. The Stone Pine, 

 and the Long-coned Pine, don't open like yours ; but I think all 

 the rest do. 



Thee has obliged me much, with so fine a collection of Wasps, 

 with their natural history, which is very entertaining and surpris- 

 ing : in particular the clay nests their fabrication, and their pro- 

 vision for their young, with all the rest, are evidences of the 

 unlimited power and wisdom of the Great Author of all things. 

 But that these creatures which are a common pest to mankind 

 should have such wonderful instincts bestowed on them, for securing 

 themselves and their species, exceeds our comprehension, but raises 

 our admiration. It may serve to abate our pride and conceit, when 

 we see so much bestowed on these lower classes of being, which is 

 not unworthy of our notice : and it is owing to thy indefatigable 

 industry, that these things are brought to light. Great is thy 

 pleasure, that at the same time thee art obliging thy friend, thee 

 art improving thyself in the knowledge of nature. 



Pray look out sharp, next year, and be beforehand with that 

 saucy Raccoon, that I may see that pretty nest, built in the bush; 

 and send the Wasp, and a better specimen of the clay Wasp ; for 

 the last wanted its head. Such a variety of these creatures must 

 be very troublesome. We have but one, and that is bad enough, 

 that builds its nest in dry banks ; two sorts of Bees the Honey 

 Bee, and a large Humming Bee that builds in dry banks ; and one 

 sort of Hornet ; and three sorts of Ants. But I am like to intro- 

 duce a fourth ; for I found in the earth that the plants came in, the 

 outer husk of a chestnut, and in it a colony of very small Ants. 

 These I have carried into the country, to see how they will thrive 

 in our climate. 



Thee will continue thy observation on the Yellow Wasp. No. 1 



