THE HORNET. 
227 
decayed wood of the ash, and will penetrate through 
crevices in the bark, to abrade away the dry wood be- 
neath. They seem to have but small families, ten or 
twelve cells only being provided. These are situate at 
the bottom of an egg-shaped cup, contracted at the 
lower end, where an^jorifice is left for the entrance. 
This again is covered, in the part where the cells are 
placed, by a loose hood, or shed, extending about half- 
way down the inner one. The pendent situation of the 
■whole, and this external hood, round which the air has 
a free circulation, are admirably contrived for securing 
the cells from injury by water. The nest, when hanging 
in its proper situation, is like the commencement of 
some paper-work flower, and can never be observed 
but with admiration at the elegance of its structure ; 
and the unusual appearance of the whole must excite 
the attention of the most incurious observer of such 
things. 
Every-day events manifest to very superficial obser- 
vation, that no created being, from the monster of the 
ocean, “ that makes the deep boil like a pot of ointment,” 
to the insect that feebly creeps on the ground, exists 
free from the persecutions or annoyance of another. 
Some may be subject to fewer injuries than others, but 
none are wholly exempt : the strong assail by power, 
and become assaulted themselves by the minute or weak. 
This year (1826) the hornet (vespa crabro) abounded 
with us in unusual numbers, and afforded constant evi- 
dence of its power and voracity, that could not have 
been exceeded by any ravenous beast. In our gardens 
the imperious murmur of four or five of them at a time 
might be frequently heard about our fruit trees. They 
would occasionally extract the sweet liquor from the 
gage, or other rich plums ; but the prime object of their 
visit was to seize the wasps, that frequented the same 
places. This they not only did when the creature was 
feeding on the fruit, but would hawk after them when 
on the wing ; capture them with a facility, to which 
their heavy flight seemed unequal ; bear them to some 
. neighboring plant, and there feed on the insect, which 
seemed perfectly overpowered by the might of the 
