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known example. These nests are attached to the branches of trees ; 

 they vary in length from a few inches to two feet : the smaller ones 

 are round, containing four or five horizontal combs, each attached by 

 its circumference to the inner wall of the nest, and having an aper- 

 ture through the middle, by which the wasps ascend to the upper 

 compartments : the larger nests are cylindrical, possessing additional 

 combs. In a bell-shaped West Indian nest, now in the British Mu- 

 seum, the under surface is flattened, the entrance-hole being on the 

 extreme edge : this nest has several partitions, the lowest of which is 

 without cells, the second has one circular cell, and the upper ones have 

 the usual hexagonal cells. A similar nest was described and figured 

 by Cuvier, who named its constructor Vespa Tatua. Lacordaire, who 

 had an opportunity of observing these nests in their native forests, de- 

 clares that the communities which inhabit them are not annually dis- 

 solved, as in the case of our European wasps. In Guiana they are 

 suspended from branches, three or four feet from the ground : they ap- 

 pear to be constructed during the dry months, viz., July to December; 

 afterwards, from January to June, when much wet prevails, none but 

 perfect ones are to be met with. A nest, sixteen inches in length and 

 a foot in breadth, has been presented to the British Museum by Mr. 

 W. Hawkins : this is the more immediate object of the present me- 

 moir. It differs from those previously known in being covered with 

 conical knobs, some of which are pointed, and three quarters of an inch 

 in length : these knobs are solid throughout, and, like other portions 

 of the external coating of the nest, are composed of several layers of 

 paper, so closely blended as to be hardly distinguishable. The en- 

 trance-holes are protected from the weather by projections or pent- 

 roofs, and the ways leading to the interior are intricately twisted, to 

 prevent the entrance of noxious intruders. The substance of which 

 the nest is composed is very hard, and the texture close and matted : 

 it is said by the natives to be fabricated of the dung of the Capincha. 

 On opening the nest Mr. White found, near the top, a globular mass 

 completely enclosed by two combs: a third comb, approaching a cir- 

 cular form, nearly enclosed the other two ; and eleven other combs, in 

 the form of inverted arches, follow each other in regular succession 

 below, the interstices between them being equal. These combs are at- 

 tached to the interior walls of the nest, small apertures being left for the 

 passage of the insects. An admirable figure exhibiting a section of the 

 nest, as well as others of its exterior form, are given, and thus a much 

 clearer view of its structure may be attained than by any description. 

 Many of the uppermost cells were filled with honey of a reddish brown 



