INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 21 
a partial suspension of active life; his metamorphoses 
would be scarcely less striking and extreme, as they 
are not less real, than those of the butterfly.” 
There are few insects which as obviously minister 
to our comfort and well-being as the honey-bees of 
which we take so much care, and which we regard 
affectionately as the type of useful industry. But, 
from the large quantity of rotten wood which they 
destroy, and of flies and caterpillars which they 
consume, we may fairly regard wasps as no less our 
real benefactors; and we may look with more for- 
bearance on the toll which they exact from our 
gardens in the autumn in return, Among most 
insects, and perhaps cockchafers and blow-flies 
supply the most familiar instances, it is the larve 
themselves which prey directly upon the animal and 
vegetable matters intended for their food. But 
among wasps, and some other Hymenoptera, it is the 
perfect insect which collects the scattered materials, 
and thus occupies a much wider field than could 
come within the range of the larva. These materials 
are rotten wood and garbage of all kinds, and, 
besides these, all the insects that they can master. 
It will be admitted that they devote themselves to 
this part of their duties with great assiduity, making 
prize of all flies, spiders, and caterpillars; bees, and 
even other wasps, not being excepted. It would be 
very difficult to prove absolutely that wasps have a 
sensible influence in diminishing the number of flies 
and of other insects. But it is the conviction of 
some of those who have paid attention to the subject 
that this is really the case. Among others, Mr. A. 
Bryson, F.R.S.E., of Edinburgh, the friend and 
