THE VESPlDAi. 235 



mother wasp, which has passed through the whiter in a con- 

 dition of sleepy stupidity. After having- built her nest, she 

 deposits an egg in each cell ; and when the larvae are hatched, 

 they become her workers and nurses. They enlarge the first 

 comb by adding new cells around it ; then they construct a second 

 comb, and attach it to the first by two or three pillars ; then a 

 third is made, and fixed to the second ; and so on for a series 

 which may include a fourth, fifth, and a sixth comb. The 

 number of the combs varies according to the increase of the popu- 

 lation of the nest. The whole has three papery envelopes, one 

 placed over the other, and they serve to protect the combs, to 

 which, however, they are never attached. The largest nests are 

 sometimes a foot in height ; but Avhether they are large or 

 small, they look veiy pretty amongst the foliage of beautiful 

 bushes. The opening is situated at the lowest part of the nest, 

 and underneath, and is always sufficiently large to give free in- 

 gress and egress to the wasps. 



In the accompanying engraving there is a figure of one of 

 these nests, which is suspended from a small branch. 



The common wasp ( Vcspa viclgaris) makes its home in the earth, 

 and after having found a small cavity somewhere, it brings con- 

 structing materials to it, and makes its nest in the dark retreat. 

 When the population of the nest increases, and when the number 

 of the sets of cells has to be augmented, the wasps are obliged 

 to undertake a great deal of labour in order to enlarge the area of 

 their homes. The nests of the common wasps have several papery 

 envelopes, like those of the wasps just mentioned, and they often 

 assume very great size, and contain thousands of individuals. To 

 all appearance, the societies of the common wasp do not perish 

 during the winter ; and if one of the localities where wasps are 

 often seen is examined, it will become evident that the wasps 

 never leave it year after year, unless disturbed. 



The Hornet {Vespa crabrd) is always feared, on account of its 

 great size and fierce appearance ; and it may be easily distin- 

 guished from all other wasps by the russet colour of the head and 

 front part of the body. Hornets usually make their nests in old 

 trunks of trees which contain large hollow spaces, for they want 

 much room for their great habitation. They attach their first 



