58 



appear to be very local. In the neighbourhood where the above 

 were found it was never known to exist beyond a space of ground 

 measuring about four furlongs in length and two in breadth. 



In my former Paper I mentioned the fact that workers from 

 one nest of V. Germanica had been observed to desert and join 

 another nest of the same species. In 1864 a nest was formed 

 under the management of Mr. S. Stone, in the formation of which 

 V. Vulgaris and V. Germanica both took part. This is believed 

 to be the first instance observed of two species living and 

 working harmoniously. The same season, however, another 

 instance was observed in which the two nests were situate in 

 their natural positions. 



The species were, as before, V. Germanica and V. Vulgaris, 

 the latter being as before the intruder on the former. These two 

 nests were situate in a drain with the entrances near together, 

 and the explanation seems to be that the one nest was mistaken 

 for the other. It is a remarkable fact, and one worth noticing, 

 that in both cases it was only V. Vulgaris that made the mistake, 

 if such it was, for no specimen of Germanica was found in the 

 nest of Vulgaris, — unless, indeed, mistakes having been made, 

 they were in every case at once rectified by the exclusion or 

 punishment of the intruder. 



Whether any further research has been made in this direc- 

 tion I am unable to say, but I believe that the two instances 

 recorded above of one species of wasp being allowed to enter and 

 work in a nest of another species are quite unique, though in the 

 case of bees such a thing is by no means uncommon. 



