AFFECTION OF INSECI'S FOR THEIR YOUNG. 211 
substantial aliment for the grubs of maturer growth. These wage war 
upon bees, flies, and even the meat of a butcher’s stall, and joyfully return 
to the nest laden with the well-filled bodies of the former, or pieces of 
the latter as large as they can carry. This solid food they distribute in 
like manner to the larger grubs, which may be seen eagerly protruding 
their heads out of the cells to receive the welcome meal. As wasps lay 
up no store of food*, these exertions are the task of every day during the 
summer, fresh broods of grubs constantly succeeding to those which have 
become pupz or perfect insects ; and in autumn, when the colony is aug- 
mented to»20,000 or 30,000, and the grubs in proportion, the scene of 
bustle which it presents may be readily conceived, 
Though such is the love of wasps for their young, that if their nest be 
proken almost entirely in pieces they will not abandon it?, yet when the 
cold weather approaches, a melancholy change ensues, followed by a cruel 
catastrophe, 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 ont of the cells all the grubs and unrelent- 
ingly destroy them, strewing their dead carcasses around the door of their 
now desolate habitation, “ What monsters of cruelty!” I hear you ex- 
claim ; “what detestable 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 benumbing hand of Winter is about to incapacitate 
them from exertion ; while the season itself affords no supply. What 
resource then is left ? Their young must linger on a short period, suf- 
_ fering 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 comparatively 
a merciful stroke. ‘This is the only alternative ; and thus, in fact, this 
apparent ferocity is the last effort of tender affection, active even to the 
end of life. IL do’ not mean to say that this train of reasoning actually 
passes through the mind of the wasps. It is more correct to regard it as 
having actuated the benevolent Author of the instinct so singularly, and 
without doubt so wisely, excited. Were a nest of wasps to ‘survive the 
winter, they would increase so rapidly, that not only would all the bees, 
flies, and other animals on which they prey, be extirpated, but man him- 
self find them a grievous pest. It is necessary, therefore, that the great 
mass should annually perish ; but that they may suffer as little as possible, 
the Creator, mindful of the happiness of the smallest of his creatures, has 
endowed a part of the society, at the déstined time, with the wonderful 
instinct which, previously to their own death, makes them the executioners 
of the rest. 
1 There are, however, exceptions to this rule, as in the nests of some species’ of 
Polistes, which fix them to trees, &c,, are found about a dozen cells filled with honey 
at the time these nests contain cells destined to receive the larvae of females and of 
males, which renders the opinion of M. Lepelletier de Saint-Fargeau probable, that 
this honey is destiaed in part to nourish the former and to exercise some influence on 
he development. of their genital organs. Polistes Lechequana, found in Paraguay 
and Monte Video, also stores up honey as before mentioned. (Lacordaire, Introd. & 
l Entom, ii, 511.), as does Myrapetra scutellaris, White. (Ann. Nat. Hist, vii, 820.) 
Reaum. vi, 174, 
no 
Ps 
