34 THE GOLDEN WASP. 



we shall briefly notice, now, the invasion of an infant asylum 

 of somewhat similar construction, wherein, however, a parasi- 

 tic wasp is the aggressor, and a solitary carpenter bee the ma- 

 ternal guardian, whose cares are often rendered nugatory by 

 its cunning. 



The waspish lady (in this case the aggressor) is, however, we 

 can tell you, Reader, a wasp of no common order ; but one 

 which, for beauty and splendour, has never met her match in 

 the waspish world, nor her superior, perhaps, in the whole world 

 of British insects. You must surely have sometimes seen her, 

 a perfect living jewel as she is! with head, breast, and 

 shoulders all thickly set with emeralds, outshone only by the 

 ruby-red and burnished gold which mingle in her fiery tail. 

 You must have seen, and certainly have noted, such a notable 

 as this, when alighted, according to her wont, in the hottest 

 summer sunshine, upon posts and railings ; but you may not 

 know her by the names either of " Chrysis," of " Golden Wasp," 

 or of " Ruby-tail Fly;" or even if you know her names, you 

 may not be acquainted with her business her business, that 

 is, upon posts and railings. Never suppose that she so often 

 visits these uninviting, flowerless, dry localities, merely to 

 bask in the sultry sunbeams, or challenge them to outshine 

 her golden splendour. No; this creature, in her glorious 

 array, is bent on glorious mischief. You may, one day, 

 happen to perceive, on the same post as that chosen for her 

 station by the golden wasp, a hole bored in the wood, and 



