434 The Natural History of Selborne 



are kneaded up with a mixture of saliva from their bodies and 

 moulded into combs. 



When there is no fruit in the gardens, wasps eat flies, and suck 

 the honey from flowers, from ivy blossoms and umbellated plants : 

 they carry off also flesh from butchers' shambles. WHITE. 



In the year 1775, wasps abounded so prodigiously in this neigh- 

 bourhood, that in the month of August no less than seven or eight 

 of their nests were ploughed up in one field : of which there were 

 several instances, as I was informed. 



In the spring, about the beginning of April, a single wasp is 

 sometimes seen, which is of a larger size than usual ; this I imagine 

 is the queen or female wasp, and the mother of the future swarm. 

 MARKWICK. 



OESTRUS CURVICAUDA. 



THIS insect lays its nits or eggs on horses' legs, flanks, &c., each 

 on a single hair. The maggots, when hatched, do not enter the 

 horses' skins, but fall to the ground. It seems to abound most 

 in moist, moorish places, though sometimes seen in the uplands. 

 WHITE. 



NOSE -FLY. 



ABOUT the beginning of July, a species of fly (musca] obtains, 

 which proves very tormenting to horses, trying still to enter their 

 nostrils and ears, and actually laying their eggs in the latter of those 

 organs, or perhaps in both. When these abound, horses in wood- 

 land districts, become very impatient at their work, continually 

 tossing their heads, and rubbing their noses 1 on each other, regardless 

 of the driver, so that accidents often ensue. In the heat of the day, 

 men are often obliged to desist from ploughing. Saddle-horses are 



