178 Flashliohts on Nature 



are models of plate-armour. They work upward, 

 downward, and more or less sideways, so that they 

 enable iier to cock her body up or down, right or 

 left, at will, with almost incredible flexibility. 



Adequately to tell you all about the wasp, how- 

 ever, would require a very stout volume. I have 

 said enouj^h, I hope, to suj^j^est to you that the 

 wasp's liistory is quite as interesting as that of her 

 over-lauded relation, the little busy bee. Indeed, 

 1 suspect it is only the utilitarian instinct of hum- 

 anity that has caused so much attention to be paid 

 to the domestic producer of honey, and so rela- 

 tively little to that free and independent insect, the 

 first paper-maker. 



