some British Guiana Hymenopiera. 309 



conspicuous object, and is often of much the same colour 

 as the beam to which it is attached. This insect shows 

 no hostile tendencies, and the taking of the entire nest is 

 quite a safe undertaking. It has only been observed in 

 the interior. 



Genus Chartergus, Lepeletier. 



C charlarius, Oliv. A fairly common species in the 

 interior. The nest of this species is a well-known object 

 and has been previously described by a number of authors. 

 They are prized by many colonists as " curios." and fetch 

 a very fair price in Georgetown. These nests may some- 

 times be seen attached to the branches of trees overhang- 

 ing the river. The taking of the nests is by no means an 

 easy matter, as the insects resent any interference with 

 their home. Nests, however, which overhang the river 

 may be taken by getting a native to ascend quietly the 

 particular tree to which the nest is attached and with one 

 well-directed blow of a sharjD cutlass sever the branch 

 bearing the nest so that it falls into the river, whence it 

 is eventually retrieved as soon as the wasps have left. 

 An unsuccessful blow, however, spells disaster, and there 

 is a case on record where such an incident occurred, and 

 the unfortunate native rathei' than suffer jum])ed into the 

 river many feet below and thus evaded the infuriated 

 wasps. 



Genus Charterginus, Fox. 

 C. jKillidilineatiis, Cameron. Issororo, N.W.D. 



Genus Nectarina, Shuckard. 



N. bilineolala, Spin., var. mdhiana, Sauss. A species so 

 far only taken in the Botanic Gardens, Georgetown. The 

 nest was found attached to the end of a dried " arrow " 

 of sugar-cane. Greatest diameter about 1| inches— depth 

 f inch. 



N. smtellaris, F. Issororo, N.W.D. 



N. lecheguana, Latr. Issororo, N.W.D. 



Genus Synoeca, Saussure. 



S. surinama, L. A common species on the coast lands 

 and occurs at times in the interior. The nests of this 

 species, which are irregular in shape, may usually be seen 

 attached to trees in the Botanic Gardens, Georgetown. 



