1903. Carpenter & Beresford. — Vespa anstriaca 6* V. ruja^ 229 



while in most of the characters distinguishing them each 

 shows a marked amount of variation towards the other. A 

 close kinship between the two is certain, but the particular 

 conclusion that we are inclined to draw from the facts will be 

 better appreciated after our examination of the nest has been 

 described. 



Early in July, 1902, what was apparently an ordinary rufa 

 nest was discovered at Fenagh. It was at the time so feeble 

 that it was left for a while to develop further. By the begin- 

 ning of August it was fairly strong, and as the previous year's 

 experience had shown that rufa nests taken on August i8th 

 and 19th all contained young queens and drones, a common 

 balloon fly-trap was placed over the hole on August 7th. 

 Next day 78 workers, all apparently typical rtifa^ were caught 

 in this trap. 



The next day, by again using the trap and by a little thump- 

 ing on the ground, 4 or 5 more rtifa workers were extracted 

 and then all was quiet, so it was decided to dig out the nest 

 This was soon accomplished, as it was built in exactly the 

 same sort of position as the rufa nests found last year, sus- 

 pended from the roots of grass, and quite on the surface of 

 the ground. Unfortunately the covering of the nest came to 

 pieces as we were extracting it, but we got out intact the two 

 layers of comb, of which it consisted ; these were put on the 

 spot with all the inmates into an insect cage, which was ready 

 for their reception. 



On examining the cavity from which we had just taken the 

 nest, a considerable number of wasps were seen crawling about 

 amongst the debris, making no attempt to fly, but burying them- 

 selves amongst the scraps of paper, and burrowing into the 

 earth round the sides. They were mostly atisiriaca males, and 

 we extracted them one by one from their hiding places, and 

 put them to join their comrades in the insect cage. Amongst 

 them was discovered an austriaca queen, which, by her frayed 

 wings and nearly hairless body, was easily recognised as an 

 old one. On further examining the captures there were found 

 two young austriaca queens, a large number of aush'iaca 

 males, one rufa male, and in the balloon fly-trap five riifa 

 workers. 



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