OBSERVATIONS ON INSECTS AND VERMES. 411 



There is a remarkable hill on the downs near Lewes in Sussex, 

 known by the name of Mount Carburn, which overlooks that town, 

 and affords a most engaging prospect of all the country round, 

 besides several views of the sea. On the very summit of this 

 exatled promontory, and amidst the trenches of its Danish camp, 

 there haunts a species of wild bee, making its nest in the chalky 

 soil. When people approach the place, these insects begin to be 

 alarmed, and, with a sharp and hostile sound, dash and strike 

 round the heads and faces of intruders. I have often been inter- 

 rupted myself while contemplating the grandeur of the scenery 

 around me, and have thought myself in danger of being stung. 



WHITE. 



WASPS. 



Wasps abound in woody wild districts far from neighbourhoods ; 

 they feed on flowers, and catch flies and caterpillars to carry to 

 their young. Wasps make their nests with the raspings of sound 

 timber ; hornets with what they gnaw from decayed : these particles 

 of wood 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 some- 

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

 the queen or female wasp, 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. 



