[ i86 ] 
public work, which is now 5 inches diameter, and 
about 4, deep. In my next you fhall hear further 
how this little colony goes on. I am, Sir, 
Your moft humble fervant, 
John Harrifon. 
S I R, Cambridge, Dec. 22 1748. 
W HAT I have further to add to my former ob- 
fervations on the pretty infedls, that were 
building their neft in my green-houfe, is, that they 
continued their work, in the fame manner as before- 
mention’d, untill they had finished 1 y coverings one 
over another, and began three more, which they 
never completed, but one is more finiflied than the 
others. 
About the 16 of Auguft there was a ceflation of 
their ufual induftry. I could only obferve ,one or 
two in a day at work, which continued to the 26, 
when they quite gave over adding any more to their 
neft. Since that, I could only fee one or two going 
in and out once or twice a day, for about a fortnight 
after. In that time I obferved two of thefe infedts 
come out of their neft, of an extraordinary fize, at 
leaft one third larger than thofe, that built the neft. 
Thefe feem to me, and undoubtedly are, the pa- 
rents or queens appointed by the all-wife Creator 
for continuing their fpecies, as their fluggifhnefs has 
a near analogy to the queen-bees, that are fometimes 
feen to come to the mouth of the hive, without any 
other feeming buftnefs than to take the air, and fhew 
2 themfelves. 
