*The Natural History of Selborne 451 



the top to the bottom of a branch, and shaving it bare with 

 all the dexterity of a hoop-shaver. When it has got a vast 

 bundle, almost as large as itself, it flies away, holding it 

 secure between its chin and its fore-legs. 



There is a remarkable hill on the downs near Lewes in 

 Sussex, known by the name of Mount Carburn, which over- 

 looks that town, and affords a most engaging prospect of all 

 the country round, besides several views of the sea. On the 

 very summit of this exalted promontory, and amidst the 

 trenches of its Danish camp, there haunts a species of wild 

 bee, making its nest in the chalky soil. When people 

 approach the place, these insects begin to be alarmed, and, 

 with a sharp and hostile sound, dash and strike round 

 the heads and faces of intruders. I have often been inter- 

 rupted myself while contemplating the grandeur of the scenery 

 around me, and have thought myself in danger of being 

 stung. WHITE. 



WASPS. 



WASPS abound in woody wild districts far from neighbour- 

 hoods ; they feed on flowers, and catch flies and caterpillars 

 to carry to their young. Wasps make their nests with the 

 raspings of sound timber ; hornets with what they gnaw from 

 decayed : these particles of wood are kneaded up with a mix- 

 ture of saliva from their bodies and moulded into combs. 



When there is no fruit in the gardens, wasps eat flies, and 

 suck the honey from flowers, from ivy blossoms and umbel- 

 lated plants : they carry off also flesh from butchers' shambles. 

 WHITE. 



In the year 1775, wasps abounded so prodigiously in this 

 neighbourhood, that in the month of August no less than 

 seven or eight of their nests were ploughed up in one field : 

 of which there were several instances, as I was informed. 



In the spring, about the beginning of April, a single wasp 

 is sometimes seen, which is of a larger size than usual ; this I 

 imagine is the queen or female wasp, and the mother of the 

 future swarm. MARKWICK. 



