VESPA VULGARIS. 457 



but the females may be so called. I call the sting an ' instrument/ 

 instead of a ' weapon/ because the mischief, arising from it simply, 

 could do but little hurt : it is an instrument to conduct poison. 



They have two modes of offence ; one by their pincers [mandibles] and 

 feet, which I believe they only use among themselves, or when they 

 fight with animals of their own size, the other by their sting. The 

 latter is a provision against larger objects, where the forceps woidd 

 avail but little, and against an enemy which can not only destroy the 

 individual but the colony. They never attack small animals excepting 

 for food, or when obstructed in their pursuit of food ; as, when they 

 attack a bee-hive, they are obliged to defend themselves ; but I believe 

 in such cases they never use their sting. They do not even attack large 

 animals except when they are disturbed, or an attack is made on their 

 hives ; and then they make an attack. For it is not simply a defence, 

 as in the humble-bee ; but they make a formal attack, and pursue if 

 fled from. Yet they can be subdued; for if their hive be taken to a 

 strange place, those that are taken with it become very inoffensive, 

 until they become familiar with their new situation : and if confined 

 under a shade with the maggots, they appear pretty well contented ; 

 and if food is introduced they will feed the maggots ; and probably, 

 even in this situation, they would go on increasing their hive, or repair 

 it if they had proper materials. However, they are not so offensive as 

 the common bee ; for a common bee will make an attack on a person 

 that comes near their hive ; but if we refrain from meddling with a 

 wasp's nest, they will pay no attention to us. However, if we have teased 

 them to offence, they become extremely irritable and are ready to attack. 



The wasp hits extremely well where she intends to sting, seldom 

 missing the intention ; and strikes with great force, so as to pierce a 

 thick glove : they often leave the sting in, but not always ; not nearly 

 so often as the common bee does. The wound is very painful, and in 

 some, swells to a considerable degree ; it is of the cedematous kind of 

 inflammation. This makes the pursuit of their natural history often 

 disagreeable ; for, in many of the necessary modes of investigation, it 

 is almost impossible to escape being stung several times, I have had 

 my face so stung as to have defaced all my features. 



I have heard of cures, but I never experienced one. Laudanum 

 sometimes eases the pain a little, and might be of service in one sting ; 

 but, when there are many, it can hardly be applied with any hope of 

 success. Cold water has been recommended as infallible ; it gives ease 

 while applied, but I think the pain is increased afterwards. It certainly 

 does not produce permanent relief 1 . 



1 [" I have seen a lump of indigo, clipped in water, and rubbed on the part which 



