WHITE-FACED HORNETS 



to come, and the strong young life within 

 them gives them vitality to endure the 

 winter, though seemingly frozen stiff in 

 their crevices. Yet only a few of these 

 come through in safety. If the queens 

 of one hive all built next year, the pasture 

 would be a far too busy place for mere 

 man to visit. 



It is just as well as it is, yet I am glad 

 that each year sees at least one queen 

 white-face pulp-making in the May sun. 

 Pasture life without her uproarious prog- 

 eny would lack spice. The great gray 

 nest is pathetic in its emptiness, and I am 

 glad to forget it and its bustling throng, 

 remembering only the one busy worker 

 that used to come into the tent and, hav- 

 ing caught his fly, hang head downward 

 from ridge-pole or canvas-edge by one 

 hind foot while all his other feet were 

 busy holding his lamb for the shearing. 

 43 



