49 G INSECTS ABROAD. 



weather they may be found sitting in large parties by water, 

 evidently enjoying the season." 



It has been already mentioned that the name Polistes signifies 

 " a builder of a city," and has been given to a genus of insects 

 in allusion to the character of their nests. For a similar reason 



the name Apoica, which signi- 

 fies a " colony," has been given 

 to another genus of nest- 

 builders, one of which, to- 

 gether with a cell-group, is 

 here shown. The specific 

 name of pallida has been 

 given to it on account of the 

 very pale yellow brown which 

 constitutes its only colouring. 

 The only attempt at variation 

 of colour is in a narrow stripe 



Fig 267.-Apoica pallid.v. ^f j,j^^|^gj. (j^^ker brOWU, which 



(Very pale yellow.) ' 



is drawn upon the outer edge 

 of the upper wings. The usual shape of the nest is given in 

 the illustration, and it is impossible to look at one of these nests 

 without being reminded of the remarkable compound nests built 

 by the sociable weaver-bird of Africa. 



In the British Museum there are a number of nests made by 

 this species, which are not only curious, but reaUy valuable in 

 an entomological point of view. Not only are the cells them- 

 selves hexagonal, but the nest masses themselves are hexagons, 

 the six sides being as regular, and the angles as true, as if they 

 had been drawn with rule and compass. How this result is 

 attained is at present an absolute mystery, and it is evident that 

 neither the sculpture nor the mutual pressure theory can lie 

 brought to bear on these nests. These nests are of various 

 sizes, so that the insects have evidently started with the idea of 

 making the structure hexagonal, and have adhered to the same 

 principle throughout. The hexagonal form is not adhered to in 

 all instances, for some nests are entirely circular, while in others 

 the hexagonal idea is but slightly indicated. These nests some- 

 times attain a diameter of eleven or twelve inches. A number 

 of these nests are shown in my " Homes without Hands," p. 585. 



