HOMES OF SOCIAL INSECTS. 



343 



transverse parallel tubings and goffered. The fibers of the tissue 

 are arranged with surprising regularity; all the zones are united 

 with consummate art, and meet in a long and plainly shown line ; 

 the paper may be also variegated with longitudinal bands of dif- 

 ferent colors. The vase is firmly fixed to its axis at points slightly 

 above and below the uppermost and lowermost combs ; at no part 

 is it in continuity with the combs ; there is plenty of space be- 

 tween the two fabrics for the wasps to pass up and down within 

 their home with ease. Taking advantage of the wholly lateral 

 position of the combs with respect to the axis, the wasps render 

 their building less fragile than it would otherwise have been by 

 placing the branch to one side of the spindle, and it saves time 

 and trouble, without materially impairing the support, to leave 

 the wood exposed at the posterior surface of the papery mass. 

 The opening is small and situated at the lower end (see Fig. 3). 



Very extraordinary are some of the nests in the collection 

 of the British Museum the works of Myrapetra scutellai^is (see 



Fig. 4. View of Exterioe of Nest of Mteapetra sctjtellabis. 



Fig. 4), a mere fanciful title. These huge erections are from 

 Central America, and the native authorities say of one that it 

 is not composed of wood fibers, but of the dung of the capincha, 

 one of the aquatic cavies of the region. One's attention is in- 

 stantly attracted to the fairly conical knobs or tubercles with 



