178 Mr. F. Smith on the Nest of Polistes Lanio, Sec. 



any kind either on the back of the combs or on the exterior of 

 the shell itself; the latter is of so hard a consistency that it blunted 

 a watch-saw, which was used by the gentleman who presented the 

 nest in making an opening in one of the sides. The cells, although 

 exceedingly thin and delicate in appearance, allow of the hand 

 being passed with some degree of pressure over them without the 

 slightest injury. The outer surface of the shell has a remarkable 

 mottled appearance, caused by the different colour of small dabs of 

 mud plastered on by the wasps. The surface is therefore rendered 

 uneven by these small and countless additions ; indeed one is lost 

 in admiration of the untiring perseverance and the exquisite skill 

 of the tiny architects. 



One circumstance is very remarkable, and for which I can in 

 no satisfactory way account. Although such an immense number 

 of cells are exposed to view, I cannot detect in any of them the 

 slightest vestige of exuviae or other matter bearing evidence of 

 the nest having had inhabitants ; all the cells are uniformly fresh 

 in appearance and as clean as if they had never been occupied. 

 Usually an old or recently commenced nest may be at once de- 

 termined by such evidence; but here we have a nest apparently 

 perfect, filled with combs, and not any trace left behind of the 

 occupancy of its constructors ; in all probability the economy of 

 these wasps differs in some particulars from that of any species 

 with which we are at present acquainted. 



Note. — Since reading the above notice on the nest of Polistes, / 

 have discovered that Trigonalys bipustulatus is described and figured 

 by De Geer, in his Mem. Hist. Ins., vol, 3, under the name of i( Sphex 

 compressa;" the specific name of bipustulatus will consequently fall. 



