1 8 COLORATION IN POLISTES. 



variability. Thus, while some colonies, as // and k, and notably g, 

 adhere closely to one type, others display a diversity of feature em- 

 bracing the whole range of types observed. Colonies a, b, d, and w 

 well illustrate this. 



Fortunately the color characters of the founders of some of these 

 nests are known, and we will consider next a few of these cases. The 



Fig. 9. -The distribution by nests in the general scheme of representation for types. The 13 

 nests are indicated by the first 13 letters of the alphabet ; 71 indicates material taken 

 at random. 



founder of nest / was conspicuously black and yellow. The thorax 

 and face had the usual yellow lines, and the abdomen was character- 

 ized by prominent metameric yellow spots and borders. In the 48 

 specimens taken from the nest of this female, and I am sure that no 

 strange queen or worker was ever allowed to intrude here, owing to 

 the vigilance of the owner, we find diijplayed the following character- 



