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time on the setting-board in order that the wings might become stiff. Mr. Collins’ 
further mentioned that on two or three occasions he had found some eggs, which he 
thought might prove to be those of D.Templi; and that he inclined to the opinion 
that, in some cases at least, the food of the larva was the common ling or heath, or 
the small sorrel. 
Mx. F. Smith communicated the following notes by S. Stone, Esq., F.S.A.:— 
Wasps and their Parasites in 1864. 
“The year 1864 will long be remembered, on account of the magnificent weather 
which prevailed throughout the whole of the spring, summer and autumn; the 
abundance of fruit of almost every kind, and the extraordinary number of wasps 
which were observed throughout the country. These insects made their appearance 
and commenced their labours at an earlier period than I ever knew them do before. 
“On the 23rd of April I removed, from a chamber I had formed the year before, 
a small nest of Vespa germanica. It consisted of a foot-stalk with four cells 
depending from it, two of which contained eggs, while above them a small umbrella- 
shaped covering had been formed. 
“During the season I have had opportunities of removing and thoroughly 
examining one hundred and ten nests, viz., forty-five of Vespa germanica, twenty- 
seven of V. vulgaris, twenty-one of V. rufa, sixteen of V. sylvestris, and one of 
V.crabro. Of these I have preserved a fine series, from specimens the work of two 
or three hours, to those which have occupied as many months. I have also a series 
of most odd-leoking nests constructed by the workers of various colonies when the 
original nests to which they belonged had been taken away. 
“On the 30th of April I took out of a chamber I had constructed a few weeks 
before a second nest of V. germanica: two coverings were in progress, and twelve 
cells had been formed, most of which contained eggs. No sooner had this nest been 
removed than the queen wasp set about the construction of another in the same 
chamber, which I removed on the 2nd of May, when she immediately commenced 
building a third, but a drenching and continuous rain which came on caused her to 
desert this nest, which I removed on the 4th. 
“On the 2nd of May I also removed from another chamber I had formed a small 
nest, or rather the commencement of one, of V. germanica. It consisted of a single 
cell at the extremity ofa foot-stalk. At1 p.m. this cell was empty; at 1h.30m, an egg 
was found to have been deposited in it. At4 the specimen was removed, while the 
queen wasp was out collecting building materials. On her return with the materials 
she had procured she employed them in laying the foundation of a fresh nest in the 
same chamber, which, in consequence of the rain above mentioned, was deserted the 
next day. It consisted of a single cell with foot-stalk. 
“* Between the above date and the 22nd I removed, from chambers I had formed, 
eight small nests of various species, which had become deserted in consequence of 
damp, or the attacks of enemies, among which the centipede appeared to take a 
prominent part. Underneath two of the number a female or queen wasp was found 
lying dead; but whether they were those belonging to the nests, or strangers, is 
uncertain. 
“On the 27th of June I took out of the head of a felled pollard elm a small 
deserted nest of V. crabro, which was commenced on the 9th. It consisted of a foot- 
stalk, to which were attached eighteen cells, some containing larve about one quarter 
