SPIDERS AND WASPS. 99 



took the branch and stuck it in the ground under the 

 tree. The wasps at once found it, and manifested so 

 much intelligence that I resolved to watch them and 

 see if they could be tamed. 



They belonged to the genus Polistes, The nest is 

 firmly fastened to the branch by a slender, strong ped- 

 icel, which is on one side of the mass of cells. The 

 cells are so arranged as to form a concave curve, as 

 may be seen in the engraving. One side is lower than 

 the other, which makes a slanting roof. 



To bring these wasps under subjection I supposed 

 would require much and long-continued patience, but, 

 to my surprise, I found them very tractable and easily 

 won. 



My first experiment was to handle the branch, which 

 they resented by acting quite waspish ; but I was very 

 gentle with them, and they, never stinging me, soon 

 allowed me to hold it in such a manner that I could 

 see them feed their young and go on with their work, 

 building their paper cells. They manufactured their 

 paper out of wood. I placed a weather-beaten board 

 near them. Two of the wasps used it ; some of the 

 others tried it, but seemed to conclude that they had 

 a better manufacturing establishment of their own 

 finding. 



I held a small dish of moistened sugar and fruit 

 sirup in my hand, which they found and relished high- 

 ly. I never left this for them to help themselves, as I 



