A WARRIOR-WASP. Ill 



tion, in all probability very like that induced by 

 the late plan of breathing ether and other vapours 

 to render persons insensible to pain, while sur- 

 gically operated on. Since this plan has been in- 

 troduced, we read in some of the newspapers we 

 may question with what truth that the butchers 

 in Albany (America,) give ether to the oxen 

 before killing them, so as to make them insensible 

 to the pain of the death-blow ! But the wasps in 

 question have for ages been in the habit of effecting 

 the same end by stinging their captives, the poison 

 not sufficing to kill them, nor yet permitting them 

 to be actively alive. 



The insects thus stored up for the larva cost 

 the parent many a conflict in their capture. And 

 here we may interest the reader by describing the 

 exploits of a warrior wasp, abundant in the Isle of 

 France. It is curious that in the Isle of France 

 the common bee is not to be found as a native of 

 the woods, while, in the Isle of Bourbon, it is very 

 common, and furnishes an abundance of wax and 

 honey. This is explained by supposing that the 

 warriors of whom we are about to speak destroy 

 the bees, and have thus prevented their mul- 

 tiplying in the island in question. Truly, like the 



