190 LIFE IN THE INSECT WORLD. 



When the wasp has thus made one of her 

 sheets of paper, she begins to form her nest. 

 She commences at the ceiling, and goes on add- 

 ing sheet after sheet, until her roof is composed 

 of fifteen or sixteen layers of paper, and is near- 

 ly two inches in thickness. 



Reneb. I thought the wasp's paper was thin- 

 ner than ours ; but I am sure a whole quire of 

 letter paper would not make a wall half an inch 

 thick. 



fliunt M. The wasp does not lay her sheets 

 one upon the other, as they are placed in a quire 

 of letter paper, but contrives to fasten them to- 

 gether so as to leave small spaces between each 

 of the sheets; as, by this means, the inside of her 

 nest is more effectually protected from moisture. 

 When she has finished the roof, she makes a 

 platform, or floor, at a little distance below it, 

 which she attaches to the ceiling by beautifully 

 formed pillars, also made of paper. Upon this 

 floor she forms a large number of little six-sided 

 cells, very much like those in a bee-hive, only 

 that they are made of paper instead of wax. 

 But these cells are not intended to contain ho- 

 ney, (for the wasp, although fond of honey, 



