POLISTES 



187 



more to come back for, flew straight off to 

 its nest, without taking any further note 

 of the locality. Such an action is not the 

 result of blind instinct, but of a 

 thinking mind, and it is wonder- 

 ful to see an insect so diflferently 

 constituted, using a mental pro- 

 cess similar to that of man." 



Although Polistes is the only 

 paper-maker in this country, ex- 

 cepting a species in California that 

 builds unprotected combs, in other 

 parts of the world may be found 

 a number of species. 



In Java is a social wasp that constructs 

 a nest of three stories, very much like the 

 arrangement of combs in the nests of the 

 Vespse ; only, this nest is not enclosed, and 

 hangs suspended by a long, slender, cen- 

 tral pedicel. 



In South America, too, is found a pretty 

 little nest hanging like a bell from a long, 

 slender handle. 



