HYMENOPTERA — VESPIDA. 94.5 
slightly elongated and inflected, the maxilla (fig. 88. 9. under side of 
the head with one of the mandibles extended; fig. 88.3. 6,13. 3) 
terminated by a short process articulated near the extremity; the 
maxillary palpi are longer than the lobe of the maxilla, with the joints 
short, and generally obconical in form (fig. 88. 3. 6,13. 9, the 
joints in the male being thinner and rather longer than in the female). 
The labium (fig. 88. 14.) is trifid, with four terminal glands, the middle 
division broad and but slightly elongate, and somewhat heart-shaped 
at the extremity, having two of these glands near its apex; the labial 
palpi are slender, the terminal joints varying in their proportions in 
the sexes (fig. 88. 4. 6, 14. 2). The antenne are invariably 
12-jointed in the females and neuters (fig. 88. 8. front of head and 
antenna of ? ), those of the males being 13-jointed (jig. 88. 5.), 
and not hooked and recurved at the tip. The upper wings have one 
marginal and three complete submarginal cells. ig. 88. 16. re- 
presents the mode in which they are folded when at rest, a being the 
upper surface of the terminal part of the fore wing; b the under 
surface of the hind part of the fore wing, which is folded upon the 
upper surface of the fore part; and c the upper surface of the hind 
wing. The basal segment of the abdomen is rarely contracted into an 
elongated peduncle. The male organs of generation are very large 
(jig. 88. 6.); the ‘posterior tibiae are furnished with two spurs, 
the basal joint of the tarsi being incised on the inside and pectinated 
(fig. 88. 15.)- 
The economy of these insects is scarcely less interesting than that 
of the hive bee (with which they agree in their habit of constructing 
hexagonal cells arranged in combs of different size), and would occupy 
far too great a space were I to attempt to give beyond the slightest 
outline of it. The societies are, however, annual, being dissolved at 
the approach of winter. The nests are of varied size, according to the 
number of the society by which they are inhabited, being from time 
to time enlarged during the summer, as the community becomes more 
and more extensive. Previous to the setting in of the winter, the 
females, which have been but recently developed, are impregnated 
by the males, which soon afterwards die; the females then disperse, 
seeking winter quarters, in sheltered situations;+and those which 
survive the rigours of winter commence the building of a new nest at 
the return of the spring, in which they deposit eggs and tend their young 
RD 
