THE HORNET. 227 



decayed wood of the ash, and will penetrate through 

 crevices in the bark, to abrade away the dry wood be- 

 neath. They seem to have but small families, ten or 

 twelve cells only being provided. These are situate at 

 the bottom of an egg-shaped cup, contracted at the 

 lower end, where an orifice is left for the entrance. 

 This again is covered, in the part where the cells are 

 placed, by a loose hood, or shed, extending about half- 

 way down the inner one. The pendent situation of the 

 whole, and this external hood, round which the air has 

 a free circulation, are admirably contrived for securing 

 the cells from injury by water. The nest, when hanging 

 in its proper situation, is like the commencement of 

 some paper-work flower, and can never be observed 

 but with admiration at the elegance of its structure ; 

 and the unusual appearance of the whole must excite 

 the attention of the most incurious observer of such 

 things. 



Every-day events manifest to very superficial obser- 

 vation, that no created being, from the monster of the 

 ocean, " that makes the deep boil like a pot of ointment," 

 ta the insect that feebly creeps on the ground, exists 

 free from the persecutions or annoyance of another. 

 Some may be subject to fewer injuries than others, but 

 none are wholly exempt : the strong assail by power, 

 and become assaulted themselves by the minute or weak. 

 This year (1826) the hornet (vespa crabro) abounded 

 with us in unusual numbers, and afforded constant evi- 

 dence of its power and voracity, that could not have 

 been exceeded by any ravenous beast. In our gardens 

 the imperious murmur of four or five of them at a time 

 might be frequently heard about our fruit trees. They 

 would occasionally extract the sweet liquor from the 

 gage, or other rich plums ; but the prime object of their 

 visit was to seize the wasps, that frequented the same 

 places. This they not only did when the creature was 

 feeding on the fruit, but would hawk after them when 

 on the wing ; capture them with a facility, to which 

 their heavy flight seemed unequal ; bear them to some 

 neighboring plant, and there feed on the insect, which 

 seemed perfectly overpowered by the might of the 



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