June, 1897.] Packard: Transformations of Hymenoptera. 77 



of the modification of the species, so truly do all changes register them- 

 selves thereon," and it seems to me that in the brains of so-called " mimic- 

 ing " species of insects, we might, if we could but understand the full sig- 

 nificance of brain cells, read therein the records of the development of a 

 dim, obscure consciousness, a volition and an intelligence that has kept 

 pace with the requirements of these organisms, in protecting their lives 

 and perpetuating their race. Man himself comes into the world, little 

 less than a mere automaton, but with an inherited basis for future de- 

 velopment of an individual consciousness. He begins his education 

 with the alphabet, but does not transmit even a knowledge of this al- 

 phabet to his offspring, who must begin precisely where he himself be- 

 gan. But there has descended to his children, that which will enable 

 them to master the alphabet with more aptitude and less difficulty. 

 Now, if we descend the line of animal life, until we reach these insects 

 whose movements go far toward perfecting the protection afforded by 

 their form, color and coloration, may we not expect to find the founda- 

 tion for a "species consciousness" that will enable the possessors to 

 protect their lives from enemies of long standing and gradually, though, 

 perhaps very slowly, adapt themselves to shunning the attacks of more 

 recent foes ? Or, to put the question in other words, with a protective 

 appearance, will there not go either a consciousness of that appearance, 

 or an inherited foundation for such a consciousness, that will the better 

 enable an insect to apply its protective inheritance, and in the use of all 

 of these, as a means of perpetuating its kind, follow strictly in the line 

 of all other animal life ? 



NOTES ON THE TRANSFORMATIONS OF THE 

 HIGHER HYMENOPTERA. II. 



By a. S. Packard. 



Polistes (probably P. canadensis Linn.). 



Larva.— It differs generically from Vespa in its head being about 

 twice as large ; the body is much shorter, a third shorter than in Vespa, 

 and more ovoid ; the end sharper, the body narrowing rapidly towards 

 the tip, which is more pointed than usual ; towards the head it taperS 

 rapidly, the prothoracic segment being small in proportion to the head. 

 The lateral ridge of the body is but slightly prominent. The body is 

 not entirely cylindrical, but very convex above, and flattened beneath. 

 The last sternite is twice as broad as long ; the sides of the anal opening 



