SAMOUELLE S 



circumstances of the case, you will view this seem- 

 ingly cruel sacrifice in a different light. The old 

 wasps have no stock of provisions : the benumbing 

 hand of winter is about to incapacitate them from 

 exertion ; while the season itself affords them no 

 supply. What resource then is left ? Their young- 

 must linger on a short period, suffering all the 

 agonies of hunger, and at length expire. They have 

 it in their power at least to shorten the term of this 

 misery — to cut off its bitterest moments. A sudden 

 death by their own hands is comparatively a merciful 

 stroke. This is the only alternative ; and thus, in 

 fact, this apparent ferocity is the last effort of tender 

 affection, active even to the end of life. I do not 

 mean to say that this train of reasoning actually passes 

 through the mind of the wasps. It is more correct to 

 regard it as having actuated the benevolent Author 

 of the instinct so singularly, and without doubt so 

 wisely, excited. Were a nest of wasps to survive the 

 winter they would increase so rapidly, that not only 

 would all the bees, flies, and other animals on which 

 thej prey, be extirpated, but man himself find them 

 a grievous pest. It is necessary, therefore, that the 

 great mass should annually perish ; but that they 

 may suffer as little as possible, the Creator, mindful 

 of the happiness of the smallest of his creatures, has 

 endowed a part of the society, at the destined time, 

 with the wonderful instinct which, previously to 

 their own death, makes them the executioners of 

 the rest." 



