COMMON WASP. 
401 
ing which it before took so much pains to make, 
and struggles to escape. First it extends one horn, 
and then another ; to these a paw succeeds ; the 
head grows visible next, and the aperture widens 
with the efforts of the insect’s body, till at last it 
conies out a perfect wasp. His first employment is 
to wipe off the humidity from his little wings with 
his hind feet, which brush them for some time ; 
after which he springs into the air, and flies to the 
fields to pillage with the rest of the species, whose 
address and malignity he begins to imitate from that 
day. Within twelve hours after the transformation, 
astonishing as it may appear, the young wasps have 
been seen foraging for provision, and feeding the 
worms in the cells. 
During the heat of summer this colony exists in 
all its vigour, and every one of the inhabitants has 
its respective share in the labour of the day allotted 
it ; but as the season advances, their enterprising 
spirit begins to abate, they plunder with less vora- 
city, are not so bold in their attacks, and confine 
themselves more to the nest, making but short ex- 
cursions, and those near home, in the noon day 
heats. This languor increases with the approaching 
of winter ; and as they hoard up no store for 
their future support, not even providing in one day 
for the wants of the next, their situation begins to 
be calamitous, and, in the end, drives them to the 
cruel resolution of sacrificing their growing progeny 
to the necessity of* the times. This barbarity is 
«/ ,? 
VOX.. II. 2 D, 
