AFFECTION OF INSECTS FOR THEIR YOUNG. 373 



The sole survivor probably of a last year's swarm of many 

 thousands, this female, as soon as revived by the warmth 

 of spring, proceeds to construct a few cells, and deposits 

 in them the eggs of working wasr)s. The eggs are co- 

 vered with a gluten, which fixes them so strongly against 

 the sides of the cells, that it is not easy to separate them 

 unbroken. These eggs seem to require care from the 

 time they are laid, for the wasps many times in a day 

 put their heads into the cells which contain them. When 

 they are hatched, it is amusing to witness the activity 

 with which the female runs from cell to cell, putting her 

 head into those in which the grubs are very young, while 

 those that are more advanced in age thrust their heads 

 out of their cells, and by little movements seem to be 

 asking for their food. As soon as they receive their por- 

 tion, they draw them back and remain quiet. These she 

 feeds until they become pupae ; and within twelve hours 

 after being excluded in their perfect state, they eagerly 

 set to work in constructing fresh cells, and in lightening 

 the burthen of their parent by assisting her in feeding 

 the grubs of other workers and females which are by this 

 time born. In a few weeks the society will have received 

 an accession of several hundred workers and many fe- 

 males, which without distinction apply themselves to 

 provide food for the growing grubs, now become ex- 

 ceedingly numerous. With this object in view, as they 

 collect little or no honey from flowers, they are con- 

 stantly engaged in predatory expeditions. One party 

 will attack a hive of bees, a grocer's sugar hogshead, or 

 other saccharine repository ; or, if these fail, the juice of 

 a ripe peach or pear. You will be less indignant than 

 formerly, at these audacious robbers now you know 

 that self is little considered in their attacks, and that 



