,64 BEE-FJRMING. 



THE WORST BEE-ENEMIES. 



Not unfrequently, if the eyes are used carefully in 

 early summer, when rambling in some secluded village 

 lane, or peeping beneath the overhanging eaves of the 

 thatched cottage, we shall discover the nest of the wood- 

 wasp [Vespa sylvestris). If it is found in its early stage, or 

 when just completed, and before the architect has had time 

 to deposit eggs in the cells, it may be detached and carried 

 away without fear. I cannot point my readers to a more 

 ■interesting object than this nest, a paper nest, more like 

 in its external resemblance to a flower made with fine 

 tissue-paper than anything with which I am acquainted: 

 no one can look at it without being filled with admiration 

 at the elegance of its structure and design. They are not 

 so rare as some people imagine: the real fact is, few per- 

 sons, perhaps, have ever looked carefully for them, or they 

 would doubtless long since have met with one. This 

 species is more common in the north of England than in 

 the southern counties, although they occur here and there 

 all over the land. 



Having discovered one of these pretty little nests, and 

 hung it up by means of a little glue to the top of the 

 interior of a glass shade, as a chimney-shelf ornament, we 

 should like to know a little about the history of these 

 wonderful paper-manufacturers. If it be quite correct to 

 describe our honey-bees as the first wax-makers, would it 

 not be equally correct and appropriate to describe ihese 

 little active, though certainly irascible insects (the wasps), 

 as the first paper-makers .? They have known from the 

 days of Adam how to make into paper almost every 

 material which has been used for this purpose in modern 

 times, long before the learned Egyptians employed the 



