35$ "f HE I'HiLOSOPHt 



for it frequently exceeds an inch and a half in thicknefs, smd 

 rs compofed of a number of ftrata or layers as thin as paprer^ , 

 between each of which there is a void fpace. This cover is 

 a kind of box for incloiing the combs, and defending them 

 from the rain which occafionally penetrates the earth. For 

 this purpofe it is admirably adapted. If it were one folid 

 mafs, the conta£l of water would penetrate the whole, and 

 rieach the combs. But, to prevent this fatal efFeft, the anr- 

 Ulals leave confiderable vacuities between each vaulted layer, 

 which are generally fifteen or fixteen in number. By this 

 ingenious piece of architedlure, one or two layers may be 

 moiftened with water, while the others are not in the leaft 

 afFefted. 



The materials employed by wafps in the confl:ru(5lion of 

 their nefts are very diiTerent from thofe made ufe of by the 

 honey-bee. Inftead of colle£ling the farina of flowers, and 

 digefting it into wax, the wafps gnaw with their two fangs, 

 which are ftrong and ferrated, fmall fibres of wood from the 

 fafhes of windows, the pofts of efpaliers, garden doors, &c. 

 but never attempt growing or green timber. Thefe fibres, 

 which, though very flender, are often a line, or a twelfth part 

 of an inch long. After cutting a certain number of them, 

 the animals collecSV them into minute bundles, tranfport them 

 to their neft, and, by means of a glutinous fubftance furnifhed 

 from'their own bodies, form them into a moift and dudlile 

 pafte. Of this fubftance, or papier mache, they conftrudl the 

 external cover, the partitions of the neft, the hexagonal 

 cells, and the folid columns which fupport the feveral layers 

 or ftories of combs. 



The conftrudling of the neft occupies a comparatively 

 fmall number of labourers. The others are diff'erently em- 

 ployed. Here it is necefiary to remark, that the republics 

 of wafps, like thofe of the honey-bees, confift of three kinds 

 ©f flies, males, females, and neuters. Like the bees, allby 



