Microscopical Essays. 



knead it with her teeth and fore feet, forming it into a fmall ball, 

 which Hie places on the edge of the hole as the foundation-flone 

 of the pillar fhe is going to erecl : the whole of it is formed of 

 fuch balls, ranged circularly, and then placed one above the 

 other. She leaves her work at intervals, probably in order to 

 renew her flock of that liquor which is fo neceffary for her opera- 

 tions ; thefe intervals are of fhort duration ; fhe foon returns to 

 her work, and labours with fo much activity and ardour, 

 that in a few hours fhe will dig a hole two or three inches deep, 

 and raife a hollow pillar two inches high. After the column 

 has been raifed a certain heighth perpendicularly from the 

 hole, it begins to curve a little, which curvature increafes till 

 it is finifhed, though the cylindrical form is maintained : fhe con - 

 ftru&s feveral of thefe holes all of the fame form, and for the 

 fame purpofe. 



It is eafy to fee why the hole was dug in the ground ; that it 

 was deftined to receive an egg ; but it is not fo eafy to perceive 

 whv the tube of fand was formed. By attending to the labours of 

 the wafp, one end, however, may be difcovered ; it will be found 

 to ferve the purpofe of a fcaffold, and that the balls are as ufeful 

 to the wafp, as materials, &c. to the mafon ; and are, therefore, 

 placed as much within her reach as poffible. She ufes them to 

 Hop and fill up the hole after me has depofited an egg therein, 

 fo that the pillar is then deflroyed, and not the leaft remains left 

 in the neft. The parent wafp generally leaves ten or twelve 

 worms as provifion neceffary and proper for the growth of the 

 young larva : no purveyor could take better precautions than 

 our wafp, for fhe has received her inftructions from Him who 

 provides for the neceffities of all his creatures. In felecling the 

 a . worms . 



