10 
FINDING NATURE’S TREASURES 
“See all of those wasps hanging on the nest and look¬ 
ing right at us,” added Fred. 
“They are watching to see if we are going to do as 
Buddy did,” said Uncle Jack. “They are ready to go on 
the warpath again, just as they did when they went after 
Buddy. Only a few kinds of insects feed and take care 
of their babies the way wasps do. Many insects lay their 
eggs in the ground or on some plant, and then forget all 
about them. When the babies hatch out of the eggs, they 
have to find their own food and look out for themselves. 
When little boys poke them with sticks, they do not have 
anyone to fight for them as the baby wasps do.” 
“Isn't this a part of their nest?” asked Fred, as he 
picked up something. 
“Yes,” said Uncle Jack. “Buddy has broken it off. 
Isn't that too bad?” 
“I'm sorry,” said Buddy. “But it is a queer-looking 
piece. What is the nest made of, Uncle Jack? The walls 
around the holes are as thin as paper.” 
“They are made of paper,” he answered. 
“What! Real paper like in a book?” asked Bess. 
“Yes. Much of our paper is made of wood taken from 
trees. It is hard to believe that your book was once a 
part of a great tree. You will learn the story of how 
books are made from trees when you are older.” 
“But tell us now how these wasps make their paper, 
Uncle Jack.” 
“The wasp flies to an old post or log where the wood 
is not hard. She scrapes off some of the soft wood with 
her strong, sharp jaws. She chews the wood in her mouth 
