338 THE HORNET. 



but the prime object of their visit was to seize the 

 wasps that frequented the same places. This they 

 not only did when the creature was feeding on the 

 fruit, but would hawk after them when on the 

 wing ; capture them with a facility to which their 

 heavy flight seemed unequal ; bear them to some 

 neighbouring plant, and there feed on the insect, 

 which seemed perfectly overpowered by the might 

 of the hornet. The first operation was to snip off 

 the head, then to cut away the lower part by the 

 waist ; and, when near, we could hear them shear- 

 ing away the outer coat from the body, and crushing 

 it with their strong mandibles ; sometimes devour- 

 ing it, but generally only sucking the juices it 

 contained. Their avidity for this sort of food is 

 very manifest, when the grape ripens on the wall : 

 being commonly the only remaining fruit, the wasp 

 abounds there; the hornets flock to the prey, and 

 we may see them in constant progress, bearing their 

 victims from the bunches. The wasp itself seizes 

 the house fly ; but this seems rather the display of 

 wanton power than for food, as it bears the fly 

 about with it for a length of time, and drops it 

 unconsumed. The fly, in its turn, is conducive, 

 after its manner, to the death of many an animal. 

 We know not any insect that destroys the hornet ; 

 but its power and being are terminated by some 

 very effective agent, as in particular years it is 

 almost unknown*. Though we may not often 



* The hornet is a very pugnacious animal. They "will fight des- 

 perately with each other at times, when they meet in pursuit of prey, 



