NOTES, CAPTURES, ETC. 45 



inches high, covered over with turf. This nest was built right in 

 the centre of one of these turfy stumps, and I went several times 

 to look at it with the object of taking it, but bided my time, as 

 the sentinels at the entrance were always on the look-out, and 

 showed an evident disposition to drive off not only any intruder, 

 but even anyone who ventured to cast a sly glance at the entrance 

 to their abode, and I ran several chances of being well paid out 

 for peeping. So things went on till the 5th of November, when, 

 armed with a fierce squib, I went prepared to play up Gun-powder 

 Plot with the inhabitants ; but I came back without the nest, the 

 wasps being evidently all alive to my intentions, and were not 

 only ready, but appeared anxious, to repel my attack ; so, think- 

 ing discretion the better part of valour, I returned. I now left 

 home for some days, and did not return till the 15th. The 

 weather just about this time had assumed a wintry look, and we 

 had several very thick white fogs, which hung about the ground 

 all day, and a succession of white hoar frosts ; so I concluded 

 that the wasps would have succumbed to these influences. But 

 no ! when I walked up on the following morning to take another 

 survey, what was my astonishment to find them working just as 

 though it were summer time, going in and coming out in a 

 constant stream. I did not want to look twice ; so returned 

 home, feeling convinced I could leave them while I went away 

 again for a day or two. On the 23rd I came back, and felt 

 I must take it then, or I might not have another opportunity. 

 The weather had been dreadfully wet and stormy, and this morn- 

 ing the frost lay white upon the ground, and the grass was quite 

 crisp under foot ; so I started off fully determined to bring the 

 nest home. On reaching the spot I soon saw that the inmates of 

 the nest were still " all alive." There were wasps going out and 

 coming in, but not in such numbers as before ; and on looking in 

 I saw that Cerberus was not there. So now was my time ; and I 

 set to work and dug away. My only object was to get a good 

 specimen nest, so I took great pains, and succeeded in disclosing 

 a beautiful nest of a creamy white colour, quite perfect, and of 

 very large size. I got it up, and tied it up in my net as quickly 

 as I could; but what with the jogging home over two miles 

 of rough road, and its own weight, it got a good deal damaged ; 

 and it still remains in my net suspended ; for by the time I put 

 it in the inhabitants had found out what was the matter, and 



