360 HOMES WITHOUT HANDS. 



is shown at fig. 2 of the illustration. In hopes that the wasps 

 might make a still more splendid nest, a much larger box was 

 fitted up, and the insects transferred to it. As by this time the 

 autumn was closiug in, and the weather became cold, the wasps 

 could do but little work, and in a short time they died. 



Thus, in the wonderfully short space of thirty-eight days, six 

 elaborate and beautiful nests had been made by a single biood 

 of wasps, and it is probable that if the original nest had been 

 taken at an earlier period of the year, they woidd have made a 

 still larger number. However, such a feat as they did perform 

 ought to make us look upon the wasp with a more indulgent 

 eye, and although it cannot supply us with honey, as does the 

 bee, it can certainly rival that useful insect iu industry. 



On looking at this beautiful series of nests, the observer 

 cannot but admire the manner in which the instinct of these 

 creatures is made subservient to human reason. Their instinct 

 teaches them to cover all their combs with a thick mass of paper, 

 the reason being, although they may not know it, that a certain 

 uniformity of temperature is needed for the well-being of the 

 eggs and young. If, therefore, combs arc placed conveniently for 

 the insects, they will assuredly cover them according to their 

 instincts, and will as surely take advantage of wires or any 

 other supports to which they can attach the fragile substance 

 of which the nest is made. 



]\Ie. Stone has made other experiments upon wasps, and has 

 kindly sent me the following account of his proceedings : — 



" I have a beautiful series of their nests of this season's pro- 

 duction (1864), from specimens which are the work of two or 

 three hours, to those which have occupied as many months. 



" But my working communities in a semi-domesticated state 

 within the house, have for the last few weeks been going the 

 wrong way. Earlier in the season, I had as many as ten colonies 

 of various species at work in the different windows of the house 

 which I have for some years used for the purpose, all of which 

 went on satisfactorily for some time, but the sugar with which 

 they were fed, at length attracted a vast number of strangers, 

 which crowded into the various boxes, and at first impeded, and 

 ultimately put an end to the work. Before this event happened, 

 one extraordinary nest had become advanced as far as I wished ; 



