PENSILE NEST OF A BRITISH WASP. 459 



identity of the wasp, as the builder of my nest, for the female 

 was captured within it. 



Mine is more globular, and about an inch in diameter eve- 

 ry way ; it also consists of three shells, the internal one how- 

 ever envelopes it entirely, excepting the aperture for egress, 

 which is of the same width as the above ; the second shell 

 also is entire, and extends to the plane of the mouth of the 

 inner one ; the external one is, as above, also merely rudimen- 

 tal, and constructed only on one side, and at its widest part is 

 about the same size as the former. The tier of cells within 

 is in about the same state of advancement as the preceding, 

 and consists of only, apparently, eleven cells, — also perfect 

 hexagons, and of the same diameter. Its substance is a highly 

 elaborated papier machee, of a brilliant silvery grey colour, 

 smooth, and worked spirally, and in consistence it is much 

 tougher than the above. 



It was found suspended from the roof of a summer house 

 at Hoxton, and given to me by Mr. Norman. The following 

 is the description of the wasp taken with it, and which I con- 

 sider to be the Vespa Britannica of Leach. 



It is eight lines and a half long. Expansion of the wings 

 fifteen lines : diameter of abdomen three lines. I Back cover- 

 ed with long yellowish pubescence : the clypeus, inner edge 

 of the eyes as far as their emargination, a patch behind the 

 eyes at their apex, a quadrate anteriorly emarginate mark be- 

 tween the antennae, the basal joint of the latter in front, and 

 the mandibles, — all yellow ; the thorax has a broad line on 

 each side of the pro-thorax, a small spot on each side, be- 

 neath the origin of the superior wings, and two large semi- 

 circular marks on the scutellum, — yellow. The abdomen is 

 yellow, with the base of the first to the fourth segments black, 

 rather broader in the centre, where it is augulated ; on the 

 second to the fourth segments there is, on each side, an ob- 

 scure spot, separated from the black basal band : the legs are 

 yellow, with the coxae, trochanters, and base of the femora, 

 black. The wings are obscure, anteriorly fuscescent, and 

 their nervures pitchy. 



The situation in which the first nest was found, is certain- 

 ly very singular. The wasp must have concluded the spar- 

 row's nest deserted, or may it have confided in its means of 

 defence ? But I have no doubt, as I have said above, that it 

 is merely an accidental deviation, in structure and locality, 

 from the ordinary nests of the Vespa Britannica. 



1 1 give these dimensions particularly to show the relative sizes of the 

 wasp and of her nest. 



