THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 51 



architect — for I find a great difference in the size of hibernal females — one 

 found under bark of a tree at Quebec, on the 20th May, measured seven- 

 eighths of an inch, and two others which I found under decayed leaves in 

 the woods near Ottawa measured five-eighths of an inch in length. There is 

 some motive for these varied proportions which as yet requires explanation- 

 Vespa metadata invariably suspends its nest from the branches of beech and 

 maple trees. These may be found common during some seasons between the 

 months of July and October. The structural conformity of those of the 

 second colony arc remarkable from being only about half the size of the 

 third — for there cannot be a doubt on my mind but that Maculata constructs 

 a third — and that is the large nest we find in the fall of the year, and the one 

 in which the males are produced. It is during the season that the second 

 form of nest is inhabited that these insects should be watched, and I am 

 sorry that I have not had that opportunity, as I should have determined the 

 existence or not of males at this period. 



The parent wasps are very fond of building their nests in the neighborhood 

 of our dwellings. Sometimes they are found attached to sheltered situations 

 in out-houses, and their object in selecting these situations is no doubt to be 

 close to localities where they cau procure food to rear their young quickly. 

 The entomologist may look for these little nests early in May; thenceforward 

 he can fiud them in all stages of progress, but few will be found containing 

 eggs before the 25th of 3Iay, which is about the time that the first egg is 

 deposited. Larvas appear about the 7th of June. Vespa maculata was the 

 species prevalent in the woods near this city in the summer of 1868. Last 

 year Vespa germanica was predominant, and I append two or three notes 

 rejrardinof them. 



May 30th — Found a nest of V. germanica under a piece of old bark, on 

 the ground. Appearance of nest similar to that of V. maculata. There was 

 only one egg in the central cell 



June 7th— Found a second nest of V. germauba. It contained twelve 

 cells, ten of which had eggs, and the two central contained larvae, apparently 

 hatched a few days previous. The eggs are attached to the inner wall at 

 the bottom of each cell. This nest had three partitions of similar construc- 

 tion to that of F. maculata. 



June loth — Examined the nest found on the 30th ultimo. It appeared to 

 have been increased by an additional envelope. In taking up the piece of 

 bark and holding the aperture so that the rays of the sun could enter it, I 

 detected larvae in the central cells, but they were very small When I first 

 found this nest, the parent came out and flew about my bead, but on this 

 occasion I had to blow into the aperture ere she came out, and when she did 



