THE WASP. 399 



the smaller ones are devoted to the reception of the 

 working tribe. This insect passes through a similar 

 transformation to the one that has just been described, 

 but fortunately its existence terminates in one season, 

 or, from its rapid propagation, it would become a nui- 

 sance to mankind. 



Bees, flies, meat, and spiders, indiscriminately be- 

 come its prey j and the former are Frequently plundered 

 of their possessions, to supply the younger wasps with 

 food. 



Though the European wasps are extremely mischiev- 

 ous, and their sting is attended with inflammation and 

 pain, yet they are harmless when compared with those 

 of the tropical climates, and very inferior to them in 

 size ; some have allowed their sting to produce more 

 exquisite torture than the scorpion's, and it is more dif- 

 ficult to make the swelling decrease. 



OF THE ICHNEUMON ELY. 



Though there are many different kinds of this insect, 

 yet the most formidable, and that which -is best known, 

 is called the common ichneumon, with four wings like 

 the bee, a long slender black body, and a three-forked 

 bristly tail. Though this instrument is to all appear- 

 ance slender and feeble, yet it is found to be a weapon 

 both of force and defence ; it not only enables the in- 

 sect to destroy those of greater magnitude, but is the 

 means of forming a receptacle for the creature's eggs. 



About the middle of summer the ichneumon appears 

 occupied in discovering a convenient place for the pur- 

 pose of depositing its eggs, which it does by thrusting 

 its darts into the body of different reptiles or insects, 

 and, at each dart, burying one of its eggs. The ca- 



