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grown. A basin-shaped covering, two inches and a half in diameter, was formed over 
the cells. It appeared to have been deserted about a week. 
“On the 29th I took out a nest of V. rufa, which was in a very forward state, 
both males and young queens having been produced in it. The crown was studded 
with eggs of a species of Volucella. 
“On the 11th of July I took out a rather small nest of V. rufa, in which I found 
two females of Anthomyia incana in the act of depositing their eggs. 
“On the 14th I took out a small nest of V. rufa, built by the workers left behind 
when the original nest to which they belonged was removed on the 22nd of June. 
It measured but about an inch in diameter, and contained one small comb, in the 
cells of which were found eggs, larve of various sizes, and a few spun-up larve or 
pupe. 
“On the 18th I observed the workers belonging to a nest of V. vulgaris bringing 
out the larve, some only about half-grown, which they carried to a distance and then 
dropped, just as they are in the habit of doing at the close of the season when the 
communities break up—a proof that at that time the colony was in anything but a 
healthy state. This nest was close to one of V. germanica. The former became a 
ruin before the end of August, and the latter soon afterwards; thus proving that 
disease of some kind had attacked both communities. 
“On the Ist of August I took out a nest of V. sylvestris. It was suffering frum 
the attacks of a species of Acarus, which infested it in countless numbers: a female of 
Anthomyia ineana was also found in it in the act of depositing her eggs. I also took 
out a small nest of the same species built by a few workers belonging to one I had 
removed on the 16th of July: the present specimen was a very rough-looking object, 
it having been built among the tangled roots of the common couch-grass: it con- 
tained many pupe or spun-up larve, besides eggs, and larve of various sizes. On 
the same day I took out one of V. germanica, which had been constructed by workers 
from a nest removed on the 16th of July: it consisted of a small comb with a hood- 
shaped covering: in some of the cells were very small larve; in the rest eggs only. 
I also took out a nest of V. rufa built by workers belonging to one removed on the 
15th of July: it was a most singular-looking nest, in shape very like a mole (Talpa 
vulgaris), and of mach about the same size. 
“On the 2nd I took out a nest of V. sylvestris, constructed by workers from one 
removed on the 11th of July: it contained great numbers of pupz, as well as larve 
of various sizes, and some few eggs. The larve were suffering greatly from the 
attacks of an Acarus, which, by sucking their juices, had reduced them to a deplorably 
emaciated state, so that the destruction of the entire brood must, from this cireum- 
stance alone, have speedily ensued. On that day I took out a nest of V. germanica, 
constructed by workers belonging to one I had removed on the 4th of July. A queen 
of the species had by some means contrived to introduce herself into this nest, where 
she had become domiciled: it measured about three inches one way and two inches 
the other. On the same day I took out a nest of V. rufa, produced by workers from one 
removed on the 16th of July: it was very small, measuring but two inches and a 
half in length by one inch in breadth: it contained a few spun-up larvae, beside 
epgs, ce. 
“On the 16th I brought home combs belonging to a nest of V. vulgaris, into 
which, through the aperture leading to it, the gardener at Cokethorpe Park had, a few 
evenings before, poured a quantity of gas tar. On opening the closed-up cells I found 
