TliE WASP. 5c| 



ioiind hole In the centre, by which the vfrafps are enabled 

 to afcend or defcend to different flats of their building *. 



In the mean time, while thefe operations are carrying 

 on by the joint labouirs of the hive, the mothet wafp con- 

 tinues to lay till flie has produced fifteen or fifteen thou- 

 fand neuters or mules, and about five or fix hundred 

 males and females : The commonwealth day by day 

 increafes in niimbers, and enjoys peace. Towards the 

 month of OBoher^ provifions begin to grow fcarce, and a 

 new fcene enfues : This hitherto amicable tribe feems 

 then fired with mutual rage ; and the whole edifice pre- 

 fents one fcene of maffacre. The neuters and males teaf 

 from their cradles the eggs, the larvge, and new born in- 

 fers, with undillinguilhing fury. They next fight one 

 againll another. Hopes of the Hate, folititude tor po- 

 ilerity, or love to their native place, now no longer exiil ; 

 the whole commonwealth is Ihaken to the foundation* 

 Rains and frofts enfue ; the citizens are fei2.ed with dif- 

 tafe and languor j and happily for the other infedls, and 

 the fruit gardens, almoft the whole die. Some few fe«. 

 males efcape from the difallers of civil war, and the fe- 

 verity of winter, and again in the enfuing fpring become 

 the founders of new empires, which are again to be over« 

 turned f . 



* Reaumur, ubi fup ra. f Barbut's Gen. Infeft. p. 362. 



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