380 HOMES WITHOUT HANDS. 



a fifth box was fitted up with wires arranged in a different man- 

 ner. Four wires were placed across the box, rather in advance 

 of the middle, and two others in front of them. To all these 

 wires a piece of comb was fixed at the base and summit, but be- 

 tween the two central pillars a short wire was placed, having a 

 piece of comb at its summit only. The wasps were transferred 

 to this box, and in the short space of five days they covered all 

 the combs and wires, and produced the extraordinary structure 

 which is shown in Fig. 1, and which looks like a paper imitation 

 of a stalactitic cavern. The insects were ejected from this nest 

 before they had finished their work, and, in consequence, a por- 

 tion of the comb on the small central pillar is still left uncov- 

 ered. 



As this box had been so successful, another was prepared on 

 the same principle, and the wasps were permitted to reside in it 

 for the same number of days, in which time they produced an 

 equally beautiful but rather more massive nest. This specimen 

 is shown at Fig. 2 of the illustration. In hopes that the wasps 

 might make a still more splendid nest, a much larger box was 

 fitted up, and the insects transferred to it. As by this time the 

 autumn was closing in, and the weather became cold, the wasps 

 could do but little work, and in a short time they died. 



Thus, in the wonderfully short space of thirty-eight days, six 

 elaborate and beautiful nests had been made by a single brood of 

 wasps, and it is probable that if the original nest had been taken 

 at an earlier period of the year, they would have made a still 

 larger number. However, such a feat as they did perform ought 

 to make us look upon the wasp with a more indulgent eye ; and, 

 although it can not supply us with honey, as does the bee, it can 

 certainly rival that useful insect in industry. 



On looking at this beautiful series of nests, the observer can 

 not but admire the manner in which the instinct of these crea- 

 tures is made subservient to human reason. This instinct teaches 

 them to cover all their combs with a thick mass of paper, the 

 reason being, although they may not know it, that a certain uni- 

 formity of temperature is needed for the well-being of the eggs 

 and young. If, therefore, combs are placed conveniently for the 

 insects, they will assuredly cover them according to their instincts, 

 and will as surely take advantage of wires or any other supports 

 to which they can attach the fragile substance of which the nest 

 is made. 



