Daily Kennebec journal., 1904-11-14
MAKING PETS OF HORNETS.
If Gently Handled, This Writer Says.
They Become Docile.

The female hornet has a rapid-fire
armament with a lie; overable projec-
tile. | uses it for both attack and de-
fenSe, and with remarka Bile aim ami
efficiency. The first stroke of Il hornet
is as penetrh ting ds an electric shock.
At the base of its sharp sting there is
sac containing poison which, wncn
, elected into the substance of its
enemy, causes pain, swelling and dis
comfort. Facts TO which most persons
are able 10 testify by exp rience
Should the injection be upon the end of
the thumb or nose, or upon the tongue,
; there is danger from it. Strong am
monia applied to the wound is the best
antidote. Yet the hornet when treated
politely ana with gentle ceremony is as
docile IS 4 butterfly.
In the mountains of West Virginia
had a wire fly trap which. by tn .
seductive influence of moasses, per
sueded the house tIies infesting my
stave-built office to enter. Once within
it they remained incarcerated until hot
J water cured. For several DAYS a very
persistent black and white striped
hornet amused me by its futile endeav-
, ors to seize flies from the huzzing horde
of prisoners. AT last il found its way
in, ana to my astoniShment, after cap
turing a lily, found its WAY out 1t had
remembered the way of its entrance
even in the excitement Of the chase.
IT did not paralyZe its prey. as does the
mud wasp and other species 1t did not
stop 10 eat a single NJ 50 far as my
observation extend ID. IL had a
victualizing job on hand. and attended
faithfully TO il. Sucn unsellishnesS ex-
cited Arbitration.
During one of its absences / placed
my hand over the trap entrance, and
n?on it laid Il piece of ripe peach
tpon thr hornets return it lit upon nv
hahd ANA ran confusedly over it. yet
soon tricu to get under the covering
hngers. Failing it went to the peach
and took a hearty meal. While it was
eating | quietly moved my hand from
the opening. After preening itself tn ,
hornet entered and continued it's nv
! raid.
After many dozens of trips it brought
comrade with it, and personally con-
Quoted it into the fly pound. There
aiter they always worked together. To
pe sure of this. by slow approaches Of
an aHectlonate finger | was enabled to
stroke them while lunching l marked
them both with spot of red ink Many
continued experiences convinced me
'nat hornets work in pairs, like detec-
tiNtS. several other hornets from the
| same nest visited the cage, tried to en-
yer H. nut found the problem too much
, IoE them. In no instance did the pair
/ oHeF these instruction or pay any at
tehtloh TO them. They all partook of
m! lunches freely and in harmony.
But the favored pair guarded their
secret. Were they selfish? Did they
receive special plaudits at the home
nest for their phenomenal success in
ny capture? Or were they simply
governed by hornet manners?
grew fond of these winged warriors
introduced them to my several fin
gers by placing tempting sweets upon
them. Ihey learned to come to me
after they had emptied the tran of
prisoners. and gradually became very
companionable.
FOLLOWING the direction of their home
night. ana noting the range of trees,
thelr nest was easily found 1t hung
on the end of a branch Of mountain
rhododendron. The glossy. green
leaves oVerhangirg it We're undis-
turbed IN their position. but were SO
built into the outer LAYER Of papier.