THE HORNET. 337 



a reservoir of glutinous matter near it, to constitute 

 the food of the hatched creature. 



This action is a very remarkable example of a 

 superior directing Power ; the bee, never having 

 experienced the effect of the ichneumon's mischief, 

 could have no perception of danger no conscious- 

 ness of a possible injury ; but she was given a 

 precept to evade, by a peculiar contrivance, the 

 wiles of an enemy : and we have here one of the 

 few instances of the provisionary wisdom of crea- 

 tures that we can comprehend. It affords us infinite 

 pleasure to witness the labour and success of the 

 insect, and it directs our minds to the overruling 

 cause of all action and effect. 



Every-day events manifest to very superficial 

 observation, that no created being, from the mon- 

 ster of the ocean, " that makes the deep boil like a 

 pot of ointment," to the insect that feebly creeps 

 on the ground, exists free from the persecutions or 

 annoyance of another. Some may be subject to 

 fewer injuries than others, but none are wholly 

 exempt : the strong assail by power, and become 

 assaulted themselves by the minute or weak. This 

 year (1826) the hornet (vespa crabro) abounded 

 with us in unusual numbers, and afforded constant 

 evidence of its power and voracity that could not 

 have been exceeded by any ravenous beast. In our 

 gardens the imperious murmur of four or five of 

 them at a time might be frequently heard about our 

 fruit-trees. They would occasionally extract the 

 sweet liquor from the gage, or other rich plums j 



z 



