374 AFFECTION OF INSECTS FOR THEIR YOUNG. 



not abandon it a , yet when the cold weather approaches, 

 a melancholy change ensues, followed by a cruel cata- 

 strophe, which at first you will be apt to regard as ill 

 comporting with this affectionate character. As soon as 

 the first sharp frost of October has been felt, the exterior 

 of a wasp's nest becomes a perfect scene of horror. The 

 old wasps drag out of the cells all the grubs and wire- 

 lentingly destroy them, strewing their dead carcases 

 around the door of their now desolate habitation. " What 

 monsters of cruelty !" I hear you exclaim, {i what de- 

 testable barbarians ! " But be not too hasty. When you 

 have coolly considered the circumstances of the case, you 

 will view this seemingly cruel sacrifice in a different light. 

 The old wasps have no stock of provisions : the benumb- 

 ing hand of winter is about to incapacitate them from ex- 

 ertion; while the season itself affords no supply. What 

 resource then is left? Their young must linger on a 

 short period, suffering all the agonies of hunger, and at 

 length expire. They have it in their power at least to 

 shorten the term of this misery — to cut off its bitterest 

 moments. A sudden death by their own hands is com- 

 paratively a merciful stroke. This is the only alterna- 

 tive ; and thus, in fact, this apparent ferocity is the last 

 effort of tender affection, active even to the end of life. 

 I do not mean to say that this train of reasoning actually 

 passes through the mind of the wasps. It is more cor- 

 rect to regard it as having actuated the benevolent Au- 

 thor of the instinct so singularly, and without doubt so 

 wisely, excited. Were a nest of wasps to survive the 



' Rcaum. vi. 174. 



