The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-18
MAKING 'l'PETs OF HORNETS.
II Gently Handled. THIS Writer says. They
Become Docile ~ BUTTERFLIES.
From the Farm and Firsside.

From the Farm and Fireside.
The female hornet has rapid fire arma-
ment with q recoverable projectile. 1t uses
il for both attack and defence. and with re-
markablc aim and efficiency. The first
stroke OF hornet Is as penetrating as an
electric shock. At the base Of it's sharp sting
there 10 a sack containing poison which.
when injected into the substance Of its enemy.
causes pain, swelling and discomfort. facts
to which most persons are able to testify by
experience. 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 anti
dote. Yet the hornet when treated politely
and with gentle ceremony 10 as docie as q
butterfly.
In the mountains Of West Virginia i had
wire fly trap which. by the seductive nfiu-
ence OF mo lasses, persuaded the house flies
infestng my stave bu lit oa6oe 10 enter. Once
within 1t they remained incarceTated until
hot water cured. For several days very
persistent black and white striped hornet
amused me by It's futile endeaTors 10 seize
flies from the buzzing horde OF prisoners.
At last II found It's way in. and to my aston
ishment. after capturing fly. found its way
out II had remembered the way OF Its en-
trance even in the excitement OF the chase.
It did not paralyze it's prey, as does the mud
wasp and other species. 1t did not stop to
eat a single fly so far as my observation ex-
tended. 1t had a victuallins job on hand.
and attended faithfully to It, Such unself-
ishness excited adm iration.
During one Of its absences placed my
hand over the trap entrance and upon 1t
laid piece Of ripe peach. Upon the hornets
return it lit upon my hand and ran confusedly
over IL, yet soon tried to get under the cover
ing fingers. Failing, II went to the peach
and took hearty meal While 1t was eating
I quietly moved my hand from the opening.
After preening itself the hornet entered and
continued it's fly raid.
After many dozens OF trips II brought
comrade with it, and personally conducted
II into the ny pound. Thereafter they always
worked together. To be sure OF this. by slow
approaches OF an affectionate finger | was
enabled to stroke them while lunching. !
marked them both W 18th spot OF red ink.
Many continued exper fences convinced me
that hornets work in pairs. like detectives.
several other hornets from the same nest
visited the cage. tried to enter it. but found
the problem too much for them, In no in
stance did the pair offer these instruction or
nav any attention to them They all partook
OF my lunches freely and In harmony But
the favored pair guarded their secret. We're
they selfish? Did they rece i've special plaudits
at the home nest for their phenomenal sue
cess in fiy capture? Or were they simply
governed by hornet manners'
I grew fond Of these winged war; iors. ]
introduced them to my several fingers by
placing tempting sweets upon them. They
learned to come to me after they had emptied
the trap Of prisoners. and gradually became
Following the direction OF their home flight.
and noting the range Of trees, their nest was
easily found. 1t hung on the end OF branch
green leaves overhanginr it were undis-
t,irbed In their position, bur were 40 bull into
TO give the nest ma tural concealment Whether
this was intentonei or not; or whether the
nest was incres ,ed in size by dsmantlinR the
inside and building NOON the outside. DO not
know. but the evid'nce vas in favor OF en-
accident Hornets were the .hrst users OF
wood pulp for paper rannfC ctnre They
make Il from wood and leaf fhre, a, there
are both forethousht and economy IN earring
out the ins des Of their nests 70 MAKE room
Tor larger tiers OF cells in which TO raise their
Young. and in using the material TO enlarge
10 Min