THE WASPS. 295 



papillae. This style of building protects the nest as much as 

 possible against the vicissitudes of the weather, and especially 

 against rain, which cannot penetrate into the cells. Each 

 species of wasp has its own special plan of building, and 

 works the rough material in its own way, so that there are 

 countless kinds of wasps' nests, all of which, however, 

 deserve admiration for their neatness and convenience of 

 structure, although all these buildings are only intended for 

 a summer's use. Most species of wasps scrape off with their 

 mandibles the somewhat weather-worn outer surface of 

 boards, fences, boughs, etc., and fasten together with saliva 

 the wood-fibres thus obtained into a smooth mass, much 

 resembling grey blotting-paper. They first knead together 

 pellets out of this mass, and work it up further on arriving 

 at home. If they can steal any real paper they use it to 

 save themselves work. Dry leaves also occasionally serve 

 their purpose. The cells themselves in which they bring up 

 their young are sometimes almost cylindrical empty globes, 

 sometimes hexagonal cells like those of bees, and are 

 arranged in horizontal layers or combs, one under the other, 

 joined together by a sort of supporting framework, or many 

 pillars, leaving room enough between for free communication 

 and unhindered access to the young. The cells for males 

 and fertile females are larger and of rather different form 

 from that of the workers' cells. The wasps do not require 

 special store-chambers, for they bring in no honey, and kill 

 and throw out any larvae that remain when the cold of 

 winter approaches and they can find no more food for them 

 outside. Specially artistic is the nest of the hornet ( Vespa 

 crabo), often fifty centimetres high and from thirty to forty 

 centimetres in diameter, surrounded by a thick covering of 

 waved scales or layers. This strong and dreaded robber, the 

 terror of all winged flower-suckers, goes about among them 

 like the devil among poor souls, and even carries off large 

 butterflies to its hungry waiting brood. It scrapes up young 

 birch and ash-bark, to build therewith its grey paper-like cells 

 and nests, and harms, therefore, a large number of young 

 trees. But it also uses rotten wood for the same purpose, 

 and if it finds hollow trees in which it can take up its abode, 

 it makes itself at home and builds with little care. 



How often have hornets' nests aroused the wonder of 

 those which have seen or found them for the first time, and 



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