256 Mr. Curtis on the Xests of two Hymenopterous Insects of Brazil, 



not yet been noticed, from the fact that the insect inhabiting it does not 

 answer to the descriptions of those South American species recorded by Fa- 

 bricius, Latreilie and other writers. The Vespa nidulans*, an inhabitant of 

 Cayenne, is not only different in colour, but it does not belong to the same 

 section as the species before us, having the hinder portion of the thorax as well 

 as the base of the abdomen abruptly truncated, with a very short simple pedi- 

 cel : neither can it be the Polistes moriof, another species from Cayenne, 

 which is entirely shining black, with the metathorax abruptly truncated be- 

 hind, and the pedicel narrow and cla\ate. Mr. White has also described a 

 species under the name of Myraptera scutellaris*, but that species is black 

 with an orange scutellum. 



The nest also of our Brazilian wasp differs from all the others; it is most 

 like that of Polistes nidulans in form ; but the entrance is in the centre of the 

 nest in the Fabrician species, and the portion by which it is suspended is three 

 inches broad and embraces the branch, whilst ours is attached by a twig 

 only§. By Latreille's description of the nest of P. morio, it seems to be very 

 similar to ours in form and texture, but it is represented as a foot and a 

 half in length, and as the insects are so different, it is probable that on com- 

 paring the nests other variations would be exhibited ; unfortunately there is 

 no figure I believe to guide us. The nidus of Mr. White'8 insect is similar in 

 form, but it is exceedingly rugose externally, being tuberculated and covered 

 with large excrescences. I will now describe the wasp, which may be named 



4. Myraptera brunnea, Curt. 



Sericeo-fusca, pedibus ochraceis ; femoribus genubus tibiisque quatuor pos- 

 ticis (nisi basi) fuscis, maculis duabus in genis flavis. 



Description.-Neutcr; silky brown, face shining, a long yellow spot on each cheek ; mandi- 

 bles ochreous, except at the base, the apex quadridentate, the teeth castaneous: inside 

 of the antennae orange beyond the middle; metathorax oval and sloping; petiole elon- 

 gated, turbinate, slender at the base, the extremity not half the width of the abdomen, 

 with a channel down the back: abdomen ovate-conic, not larger than the thorax, the 

 edges of the segments obscurely edged with lurid yellow, more visible on the sides, and 



* Fab. Syst. Piez. p. 266. no. 68. + IbicL p> 279> no . 45 . 



X Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist. vol. vii p. 315. § Reaum. vol. vi. pi. 20. 



