192 HABITATIONS OF ANIMALS. 



that, when on its way to the hive, it is accosted by a hungry 

 companion. How the one can communicate its necessity to 

 the other, it is perhaps impossible to discover. But the fact 

 is certain, that, when two bees meet in this situation, they 

 mutually stop, and the one whose stomach is full of honey 

 extends its trunk, opens its mouth, which lies a little beyond 

 the teeth, and, like ruminating animals, forces up the honey 

 into that cavity. The hungry bee knows how to take advan- 

 tage of this hospitable invitation. With the point of its trunk 

 it sucks the honey from the other's mouth. When not stop- 

 ped on the road, the bee proceeds to the hive, and in the 

 same manner offers its honey to those who are at work, as if 

 it meant to prevent the necessity of quitting their labor in 

 order to go in quest of food. In bad weather, the bees feed 

 upon the honey laid up in open cells ; but they never touch 

 these reservoirs when their companions are enabled to sup- 

 ply them with fresh honey from the fields. But the mouths of 

 those cells which are destined for preserving honey during 

 winter, they always cover with a lid or thin plate of wax. 



Wasps, like the bees, associate in great numbers, arid con- 

 struct, with much dexterity and skill, a common habitation. 

 There are many species of wasps, some of which unite into 

 societies, and others spend their lives in perfect solitude. But, 

 in this place, we shall confine our attention to the operations 

 of the common associating wasp, an insect so well known, 

 even to children, that it requires no description. Though 

 bees, as well as wasps, are armed with a sting, yet the for- 

 mer may be regarded as a placid and harmless race. Bees 

 are continually occupied with their own labors. Their chief 

 care is to defend themselves ; and they never take nour- 

 ishment at the expense of any other animal. Wasps, on the 

 contrary, are ferocious animals, who live entirely on rapine 

 and destruction. They kill and devour every insect that is 

 inferior to them in strength. But though warlike and rapa- 

 cious in their general manners, they are polished and peace- 

 able among themselves. To their young they discover the 

 greatest tenderness and affection. For their protection and 

 conveniency no labor is spared ; and the habitations they 

 construct do honor to their patience, address, and sagacity. 

 Their architecture, like that of the honey-bee, is singular, 

 and worthy of admiration ; but the materials employed fur- 

 nish neither honey nor wax. Impelled by an instinctive love 

 of posterity, they, with great labor, skill, and assiduity, con- 

 struct combs, which are likewise composed of hexagonal or 



