68 Bees and Wasps. 



II. 



i. I have been much struck by the industry of 

 wasps. They commence work early in the morn- 

 ing, and do not leave off till dusk. I have several 

 times watched a wasp the whole day, and from 

 morning to evening, if not disturbed, she worked 

 without any interval for rest or refreshment. 



Being anxious to compare bees and wasps in this 

 respect, on August 6, 1882, I accustomed a wasp 

 and three bees to come to some honey put out for 

 them on two tables, one allotted to the wasp, the 

 other to the bees. The last bee came at 7.15 P.M. 

 The wasp continued working regularly till 7.47, 

 coming at intervals of between six and seven 

 minutes. Next morning, when I went into my 

 study a few minutes after 4 A.M., I found the wasp 

 already at the honey. The first bee came at 5.45, 

 the second at 6. 



It would, however, perhaps be unfair to the bees 

 to regard this as indicating that they are less in- 

 dustrious than wasps. The deficiency may be due 

 to their being more susceptible to cold. 



2. The wasp occupied about a minute, or even 

 less, in supplying herself with honey, and made 

 during the day no less than 1 16 visits to the store, 

 or 232 journeys between my room and her nest, 



