INSKCTS. 155 



the distance from one radius to another, as well as keep- 

 ing an equal distance between the concentric lines, was 

 very striking. I don't know how long I stood watch- 

 ing this very beautiful operation — not long, certainly, 

 for the time she took making her net was much shorter 

 than I could have imagined. The whole thing was 

 most absorbing, and I was quite disappointed when her 

 work was done. 



There is a large yellow and black-coloured species 

 of hornet which I have frequently seen, more than two 

 inches long. They are most objectionable creatures — 

 bad-tempered to a degree, attacking you without any 

 provocation, in the most pertinacious manner. I knew 

 of a nest by the side of a tiny trout-stream, which I fre- 

 quently visited. A nice little pool lay just opposite or 

 in front of the hornets' nest; but any trout that may 

 have been there were quite safe from being disturbed. 

 I invariably gave the locality a wide berth ; but once I 

 lingered, and was immediately stung on the hand by 

 a creature like a small bird, which came straight 

 at me from the hole in the bank where the nest was. 

 On another occasion I sat down on a fallen tree to 

 prepare my rod and line, and to my hon-or found I 

 was actually sitting on a hornets' nest. To spring up 

 and fly was the act of a moment : nevertheless I was 



