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THE

Contemplative Philosopher:

OR

SHORT ESSAYS

ON THE

VARIOUS OBJECTS OF NATURE

NOTICED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR;

WITH

POETICAL ILLUSTRATIONS,

AND

MORAL REFLECTIONS ON EACH SUBJECT.

BY RICHARD LOBB.

Fourth Edition, Corrected and Improved.

IN TWO VOLUMES.

VOL. II.

London:

PRINTED FOR SHERWOOD, NEELY, & JONES,

PATERNOSTER-ROW.

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Printed by T. Davison, Lombard-street, Whitefriars, London.

THE

CONTEMPLATIVE PHILOSOPHER.

No. XXXIX.

ON THE WONDERFUL INGENUITY OF

WASPS.

The laws of life, why need I call to mind,
Obeyed by insects too of every kind?

Of these, none uncontrolled and lawless rove,
But to some destined end spontaneous move:
Led by that instinct Heav'n itself inspires,
Or so much reason as their state requires:
See all with skill acquire their daily food,
All use those arms which Nature has bestowed;
Produce their tender progeny, and feed
With care parental, while that care they need :
In these loved offices completely blest,
No hopes beyond them, nor vain fears molest.

JENYNS.

THE wonders of Nature in the insect tribes are not confined to what is observable in the operations of bees. The labours of wasps, though not beneficial to mankind, are not less ingenious and worthy of admiration.-Wasps, like the bees, associate in great numbers, and construct a common habitation with much dexterity and skill. There are many species of wasps, some of which unite into societies,

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