THE WASr. 31-7 



and glue. The wood they get where they can from the rails 

 and posts which they meet with in the fields and elsewhere. 

 These they saw and divide into a multitude of small fibres, of 

 which they take up little bundles in their claws, letting fall upon 

 them a few drops of gluey matter, with which their bodies are 

 provided, by the help of which they knead the whole composi- 

 tion into a paste, which serves them in their future building. 

 When they have returned with this to the nest, they stick their 

 load of paste on that part where they make their walls and 

 partitions ; they tread it close with their feet, and trowl it with 

 their uunks, still going backwards as they work. Having re- 

 peated this operation three or four times, the composition is at 

 length flatted out until it becomes a small leaf of a gray colour, 

 much finer than paper, and of a pretty firm texture. This done, 

 the same wasp returns to the field to collect a second load of 

 paste, repeating the same several times, placing layer upon 

 layer, and strengthening every partition in proportion to the 

 wants or convenience of the general fabric. Other working 

 wasps come quickly after to repeat the same operation, laying 

 more leaves upon the former, till at length, after much toil, they 

 have finished the large roof, which is to secure them from the 

 tumbling in of the earth. This dome being finished, they make 

 another entrance to their habitation, designed either for letting 

 in the warmth of the sun, or for escaping, in case one door be 

 invaded by plunderers. Certain however, it is, that by one of 

 these they always enter, by the other they sally forth to their 

 toil ; each hole being so small that they can pass but one at a 

 time. The walls being thus composed, and the whole some- 

 what of the shape of a pear, they labour at their cells, which 

 they compose of the same paper-like substance that goes to the 

 formation of the outside works. Their combs differ from those 

 of bees not less in the composition than the position which they 

 ire always seen to obtain. The Loney-comb of the bee is edge- 

 .vays with respect to the hive ; that of the wasp is flat, and the 

 mouth of every cell opens downwards. Thus is their habita- 

 tion contrived, story above story, supported by several rows of 

 pillars, which give firmness to the whole building, while the 

 upper story is flat-roofed, and as smooth as the pavement of 

 u room, laid with squares of mai'ble. The wasps can freely 

 walk upon these stories between the pillars to do whatever their 



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