25 



After explaining how two nests of Vespa Gerraanica were placed 

 in a room on the first floor of an unoccupied house, which he 

 used as a vespiary, he proceeds : — " It soon became apparent that 

 the nest near the window had more than its fair share of workers, 

 while those in the opposite one had fallen off very considerably. 

 Surprised at this, I proceeded to reverse the position of the nests, 

 when that which had previously become almost deserted, now 

 suddenly became thriving and populous, while the other, in its 

 turn, retained but a few faithful and staunch adherents, the 

 whole number being barely sufficient languidly to carry on the 

 ' business of the state.'" " Finding, as above stated, that members 

 of one community were allowed, without opposition to join them- 

 selves to another, I determined to try whether advantage could 

 not be taken of this fact to cause the work of a nest on the 

 ground floor, which had at this date (the middle of August,) 

 aided by a constant supply of sugar, with which the workers 

 were regaled, attained a very considerable size, to be carried on 

 with increased rapidity ; I therefore began gradually to stint, 

 and ultimately to stop, the supplies altogether of the lodgers 

 occupying the first floor, upon which, as I anticipated, they 

 began to desert in vast numbers, and join' the more favoured 

 community below, life members of which they at once became. 

 This vast addition to the ordinary number of workers had, of 

 necessity, the eftect I intended, that of contributing to swell the 

 work far beyond its ordinary limits." 



This nest was placed in the Ashmolean Museum at Oxford. 

 It has recently been removed to the New Museums, where it 

 may still be seen. It measures upwards of five feet in circum- 

 ference the shortest way. 



Throughout the summer a most singular noise may be heard 

 to proceed from the nests both of Vespa Germanica and Vespa 

 Vulgaris. The power of producing it seems to be restricted to 

 these two species. The sound is not exactly like the purring of a 

 cat, nor the croaking of a frog, but very much resembles what 

 one can imagine a mixture of the two sounds would produce. 

 It is louder and sharper than the purring of a cat, and it is not 

 continuous, but occurs at intervals of two or three seconds. It 

 goes on thus for a few seconds at a time, and then ceases probably 

 for half an hour or more, when it may again be heard. It occurs 



