144 HAMPSHIRE DAYS 



and settles on the flowers, but capriciously, staying 

 but a moment or two in one place, then moving to 

 another, the meaner insects all expeditiously making 

 room for it. And after tasting a few flowers here and 

 there it takes its departure. These large-sized October 

 hornets are all females, wanderers from ruined homes, 

 in search of sheltered places where, foodless and com- 

 panionless, and in a semi-torpid condition, each may 

 live through the fo.ur dreary months to come. In 

 March the winter of their discontent will be over, and 

 they will come forth with the primrose and sweet violet 

 to be founders and mothers of new colonies the brave 

 and splendid hornets of another year; builders, fighters, 

 and foragers in the green oak-woods; a strenuous hungry 

 and thirsty people, honey-drinkers, and devourers of 

 the flesh of naked white grubs and caterpillars, black 

 and brown and green and gold, and barred and 

 quaintly-coloured swift aerial flies. 



