S5* THE PHILOSOPHY 



happinefs of her fubjefls can be augmented, has fent a proper 

 perfon to Klein Bautzen to be inftru£led in the general prin* 

 ciples, and to learn all the minutiae of this new and import- 

 ant art. 



TVafpSy like the bees, affociate in great numbers, and con* 

 ftrudl, with much dexterity and Ikill, a common habitation. 

 There are many fpecies of wafps, fome of which unite into 

 focieties, and others fpend their lives in perfecSl folitude. 

 But, in this place, we fliall conline our attention to the ope- 

 rations of the common afTociating wafp, an infe<5t fo well 

 known, even to children, that it requires no defcription. 

 Though bees, as well as wafps, are armed with a Iting, yet 

 the former may be regarded as a placid and harmlefs race« 

 Bees are continually occupied with their own labours. Their 

 chief care is to defend themfelves ; and they never take 

 nourifhment at the expence of any other animal. Wafps, on 

 the contrary, are ferocious animals, who live entirely on ra- 

 pine and deftrudtion. They kill and devour every infect 

 that is inferior to them in ftrength. But, though warHke and 

 rapacious in their general manners, they are polifhed and 

 peaceable among themfelves. To their young they difcover 

 the greateft tendernefs and affe<5lion. For their protedlion 

 and conveniency no labour is fpared *, and the habitations they 

 conftrudt do honour to their patience, addrefs, and fagacity. 

 Their archite(Slure, like that of the honey-bee, is lingular, 

 and worthy of admiration ; but the materials employed fur- 

 plfli neither honey nor wax. Impelled by an inftindtlve love 

 of pofterity, they, with great labour, fkill, and affiduity, con- 

 ftru(Sl: combs, which are likewife compofed of hexagonal or 

 lix-fided cells. Though thefe cells are not made of wax, 

 they are equally proper for the rece ption of eggs, and for 

 affording convenient habitations to the worms which pro- 

 ceed from them till their transformation into wafps. 



