From Frederick Smith   March 1866

⁠⟨⁠one page obscured⁠⟩⁠ or four places—and I have distinct recollection of my own daughter being stung twice or thrice by a wasp that was shut up in the crevaces of her bonnet. In fact I dont recollect any instance of a wasp leaving its sting in the wound.—¹

If you have contrary experience you know much more of the matter than I do.—

Neither Bombus or Apathus leave their sting in the wound to my knowledge.² Pompilus and all the Crabronidae sting repeatedly without damage to the ⁠⟨⁠w⁠⟩⁠eapon of defence³ and ⁠⟨⁠3 or 4 words missing⁠⟩⁠ use their ⁠⟨⁠3 or 4 words missing⁠⟩⁠ on being ⁠⟨⁠cau⁠⟩⁠ght— The most severe and excrutiating pain—although not of long duration—is that produced by the sting of Mutilla, these insects have the sting nearly the length of the abdomen and are most dangerous insects to handle— thus in the extensive Genera Philanthus & Cerceris—both furnished with formidable stings, it is a matter of impossibility to persuade them to use them—⁴ I have many times experimented in various ways but never succeeded in inducing them to sting— Philanthus you will recollect—preys upon the [Spica] [one line illegible] which they paralyze by stin⁠⟨⁠ging.⁠⟩⁠ Cerceris more frequently selects different [Curculios]— some species ⁠⟨⁠  ⁠⟩⁠licti &c. but none of them will use their sting when caught in the hand—

I may sum up by saying that as far as my observations have l⁠⟨⁠ed⁠⟩⁠ me— I know of no insects that leave their stings in the wound except the species of Honey Bees and I once saw an instance of an Ichneumon—Ophius leaving its ovipositor in a wound⁵ ⁠⟨⁠prod⁠⟩⁠uced by piercing a Ladys ⁠⟨⁠    ⁠⟩⁠ and with great subsequent pain & inflammation ⁠⟨⁠    ⁠⟩⁠ ⁠⟨⁠    ⁠⟩⁠ Ever yours | sincerely | F Smith

Ch Darwin Esq