THE WASI'. 355 



the most luxurious manner, till its whole stock of worms is ex- 

 hausted, when the time of its transformation begins to approach ; 

 and then spinning a silken web, it continues fixed in its cell till 

 the sun calls it from its dark abode the ensuing summer. 



The wasps of Europe are very mischievous, yet they are in- 

 nocence itself when compared to those of the tropical climates, 

 where all the insect tribes are not only numerous but large, vo- 

 racious, and formidable. Those of the West Indies are thicker, 

 and twice as long, as the common bee ; they are of a gray 

 colour, striped with yellow, and armed with a very dangerous 

 sting. They make their cells in the manner of a honey-comb, 

 in which the young ones are hatched and bred. They generally 

 hang their nests by threads, composed of the same substance 

 with the cells, to the branches of trees, and the eaves of houses. 

 They are seen every where in great abundance, descending like 

 fruit, particularly pears, of which shape they are, and as large as 

 one's head. The inside is divided into three round stories full 

 of cells, each hexagonal, like those of a honey-comb. In some 

 of the islands these insects are so very numerous, that their 

 nests are stuck up in this manner, scarce two feet asunder, and 

 the inhabitants are in continual apprehension from their acci- 

 dental resentment. It sometimes happens that no precautions 

 can prevent their attacks, and the pain of their sting is almost 

 insupportable. Those who have felt it, think it more terrible 

 than even that of a scorpion ; the whole visage swells, and the 

 features are so disfigured, that a person is scarcely known by his 

 most intimate acquaintance.* 



* The Hornet. — This is an insect of a large size. The thorax is black, the 

 fore-part rufous. The extremity of the abdomen is yellow, with tliree 

 l)lack points on each segment. 



It is chiefly in the hollow trunks of decayed trees that the hornets form 

 their nest. They live collected together in communities, which consist of 

 males, females, and neuters or labourers. Their nest is of a dirty yellow co- 

 lour, &iui usually constructed under the shelter of some out-house, in the 

 liole of an old wall, or more fr;quently in the hollow trunk of some de. 

 cayed tree. The hole of entrance to this nest is oftentimes not more than 

 an inch in diameter. 



In the spring of the year, those of the females which have survived the 

 winter are reanimated by the warmth of the season, issue from thoir hid- 

 ing-places, and search out a convenient place in which they can establish 

 their nest. When this is found, they commence their first operation by 

 forming a column, of the same materials as tliose which are afterwards era. 



