MEMOIR OF THOMAS BEWICK. 31 



hives, with a stick like a spatula, to kill the wasps, 

 as they alighted to enter and rob them. I could 

 see the bees enter, loaded with what they had 

 culled from every flower, but never could see them 

 attack or repel their enemies. 



I frequently amused myself in observing the 

 murders of a large spider, which had placed its 

 web in the corner of the little window at my bed 

 head. Being wishful to see how it managed its 

 affairs, I prevented the servant girl from brushing 

 the web away. Its proceedings did not excite in 

 me any favourable opinion. Having seen it seize 

 every innocent fly that set foot upon its snares, I 

 had a mind to try how it would conduct itself 

 towards a more powerful opponent. For this pur- 

 pose, I caught a wasp, which I held by its wings 

 upon the web until its feet got entangled, when 

 out came the hitherto unthwarted tyrant ; and, 

 after some apparent hesitation, it at length was 

 tempted to pounce upon the obtruder. The 

 struggle was, however, very short. I soon per- 

 ceived the wasp double itself up and daft its sting 

 into the body of its enemy, which instantly retired, 

 and never afterwards returned. This is only one 

 experiment, but further trials of the kind might be 

 made to come at truth.* 



[* Goldsmith seems to have made a like trial. (See "The Bee" 

 for 27 October, 1759, "The Sagacity of some Insects.") But the 

 spider in his case was wiser in its generation, for it did all in its 

 power to release its unwelcome visitor.] 



