176 WASPS AND THEIR WAYS 



thus all that was going on could be safely 

 observed. 



Polistes is very careful about strength- 

 ening the little stalk that supports her nest. 

 Vespa usually attaches her structure by the 

 broad roof of the outer covering, or if it 

 hangs in a tree, builds it about one or 

 more branches so that it is very firmly 

 fastened, but Polistes has only the slender 

 ■^^j?^ support, or pedicel, in the centre or at 

 4\^ one end of hers, to hold it in place, and 

 this little paper stalk she licks again and 

 again, laying on thick layers of sticky, 

 glue-like saliva until it shines as though it 

 had been varnished. 



It is easy to take the nest of Polistes, as 

 she makes very little resistance. 



Indeed, one can cut the nest down and 

 carry it off, wasps and all, with very little 

 danger of getting stung. 



Once a nest about two inches in diame- 

 ter, was taken with half a dozen wasps on 

 it. Some of the cells were occupied by 



