LETTER XVIII. 



SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 







PERFECT SOCIETIES CONTINUED. (Wasps and Humble- 

 Bees.) 



I SHALL now call your attention to such parts of the 

 history of two other descriptions of social insects, wasps, 

 namely, and humble-bees, as have not been related to you 

 in my letters on the affection of insects for their young, 

 and on their habitations. What I have to communicate, 

 though not devoid of interest, is not to be compared with 

 the preceding account of the ants, nor with that which 

 will follow of the hive-bee. This, however, may arise 

 more from the deficiency of observations than the bar- 

 renness of the subject. 



The first of these animals, wasps, (Vespa) with whose 

 proceedings I shall begin, we are apt to regard in a very 

 unfavourable light. They are the most impertinent of 

 intruders. If a door or window be open at the season 

 of the year in which they appear, they are sure to enter. 

 When they visit us, they stand upon no ceremony, but 

 make free with every thing that they can come at. Sugar, 

 meat, fruit, wine, are equally to their taste ; and if we 

 attempt to drive them away, and are not very cautious, 

 they will often make us sensible that they are not to be 



