OF NATURAL HISTORY. 359 



the number of neuters far furpafles thofe of both males and 

 females. The greateft quantity of labour is devolved upon 

 the neuters ; but they are not, like the neuter bees, the on- 

 ly workers j for there is no part of their different operations 

 which the females, at certain times, do. not execute. Neither 

 do the males, though their induftry is not comparable to that 

 of the neuters, remain entirely idle. They often occupy 

 themfelves in the interior part of the neft. The greateft 

 part of the labour, however, is performed by the neuters. 

 They build the neft, feed the males, the females, and even 

 the young. But, while the neuters are employed in thefe 

 different operations, the others are abroad in hunting par- 

 ties. Some attack with intrepidity live infe<51:s, which they 

 fometimes carry entire to the nefl ; but they generally 

 tranfport the abdomen or belly only. Others pillage butch- 

 ers ftalls, from which they often arrive with a piece of meat 

 larger than the half of their own bodies. Others refort to 

 gardens, and fuck the juices of fruits. When they return 

 to the nefl, they diftribute a part of their plunder to the fe- 

 males, to the males, and even to fuch neuters as have been 

 ufefully occupied at home. As foon as a neuter enters the 

 neft, it is furrounded by feveral wafps, to each of whom it 

 freely gives a portion of the food it has brought. Thofe 

 who have not been hunting for prey, but have been fucking 

 the juices of fruits, though they feem to return empty, fiil 

 not to regale their companions ; for, after their arri\'til, they 

 ftatlon themfelves upon the upper part of the neft, and dif- 

 charge from their mouths two or three drops of a clear li- 

 quid, which are immediately fwal lowed by the domeftics. 



The neuter wafps, though the mo ft laborious, are the 

 fmalleft- ; but they are extremely a6live and vivacious. The 

 females are much larger, heavier, and flower in their move- 

 ments. The males are of an intermediate fize between that 

 of the females and neuters. From thefe differences in fize, 



