THE WASP. 



after much toil, they have finished the large roof 

 which is to secure them from the tumbling in of 

 the earth. This dome being finished, they make 

 another entrance to their habitation, designed 

 either for letting in the warmth of the sun, or 

 for escaping in case one door be invaded by plun- 

 derers. Certain however it is, that by one of 

 these they always enter, by the other they sally 

 forth to their toil, each hole being so small that 

 they can pass but one at a time. The walls being 

 thus composed, and the whole somewhat of the 

 shape of a pear, they labour at their cells, which 

 they compose of the same paper-like substance 

 that goes to the formation of the outside works. 

 Their combs differ from those of bees, not less in 

 the composition than the position which they are 

 always seen to obtain. The honey-comb of the bee 

 is edgeways with respect to the hive ; that of the 

 wasp is flat, and the mouth of every cell opens 

 downwards. Thus is their habitation contrived, 

 story above story, supported by several rows of 

 pillars, which give firmness to the whole building, 

 while the upper story is flat-roofed, and as smooth 

 as the pavement of a room laid with squares of 

 marble. The wasps can freely walk upon these 

 stories between the pillars, to do whatever their 

 wants require. The pillars are very hard and 

 compact, being larger at each end than in the 

 middle, not much unlike the columns of a build- 

 ing. All the cells of the nest are only destined 

 for the reception of the young, being replete with 

 neither wax nor honey. 



