WASPS' NESTS. 149 



WASPS' NESTS. 



HOW AND WHY THEY ARE BUILT. 



If we will but think of it a moment, we must real- 

 ize, to some extent at least, how wonderful it is that 

 the many insects that spend the whole of their little 

 lives in laboring for the welfare of the next generation 

 can foresee and provide so perfectly and adequately 

 for the wants of their descendants, each in its own 

 particular manner, to protect their young from severi- 

 ties of the weather or the attacks of enemies, and 

 secure and store up food for their use. 



Often building for these purposes, by the united 

 efforts of thousands of individuals, edifices that in 

 architectaral excellence and the expert application of 

 mechanical principles far surpass any structures of 

 the lower animals, and sometimes even those of man 

 himself, it adds greatly to our wonder at these marvel- 

 ous habitations when we remember that the creatures 

 displaying such knowledge and skill in their construc- 

 tion have served no apprenticeship to their trade, or 

 gone to any school or been taught by observation or 

 experience what to do or how to do it. A swarm of 

 bees or of wasps understand the business of their lives 

 as the stomach knows how to digest food or the heart 

 knows how to beat. It is far otherwise with human 

 beings, who know little or nothing but what they 

 learn by study and practice. 



