INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. — 9 
Wasps are not to be studied from a distance only, 
like the stars. It may be necessary very frequently 
to come to closer quarters. And though much may 
be done by tact and discretion, there is no way of 
preventing them getting angry and attacking the 
offender, when such a very extreme measure as 
taking their nest is resorted to. Wasps, as we shall 
see, will bear many things, but they would not be 
wasps to stand this. So, as it may be necessary to 
take their nests occasionally, it is as well to.consider 
how it may best be done. If we do not want our 
labour to be wasted, we should survey the nest care- 
fully, and ascertain the direction of all the roots and 
branches which support or traverse the fabric before 
we set to work. We must take care that there are 
all the proper tools handy. And we should bear in 
mind that without great caution we may carry away 
very unpleasant, if not serious, reminiscences of a 
holiday, in a swelled arm or face, and be well laughed 
at besides. 
There are various ways of taking wasps’ nests, all 
more or less exciting, dirty, and dangerous. All 
these elements of enjoyment.must have met in the 
highest perfection in the mode of procedure which 
Kuripides* leads us to infer was in vogue with Young 
Athens in his days. The Chorus, under the guidance 
of Ulysses, propose to poke out the Cyclops’ single 
eye with a firebrand of appropriate dimensions, in 
the same way as they have been used to operate on 
wasps’ nests. Now, although in the prospect of this 
somewhat ticklish operation of belling the cat, of 
which they have very disagreeable anticipations, the 
* « Cyclops,’ v. 475. 
