33 WASPS' NESTS. 



variety of forms and materials to which they have 

 recourse in the fabrication of their nests; and, as 

 far as we can comprehend, their expediency for the 

 various purposes required. Among those with 

 which I am acquainted, none pleases me more than 

 that of a solitary wasp (vespa campanaria) which 

 occasionally visits us here. It is not a common 

 insect, but I have met with their nests. One was 

 fixed beneath a piece of oak bark, placed in a pile ; 

 another was pendent in the hollow of a bank of 

 earth. The materials which composed these abodes 

 seemed to be particles scraped or torn from the 

 dry parts of the willow, sallow, or some such soft 

 wood, and cemented again by animal glue, very 

 similar in texture to that provided by the common 

 wasp, which makes great use of the half-decayed 

 wood of the ash, and will penetrate through cre- 

 vices in the bark, to abrade away the dry wood 

 beneath. They seem to have but small families, 

 ten or twelve cells only being provided. These 

 are situate at the bottom of an egg-shaped cup, 

 contracted at the lower end, where an orifice is left 

 for the entrance. This again is covered, in the 

 part where the cells are placed, by a loose hood, 

 or shed, extending about half way down the inner 

 one. The pendent situation of the whole, and this 

 external hood, round which the air has a free circu- 

 lation, are admirably contrived for securing the 

 cells from injury by water. The nest, when hang- 

 ing in its proper situation, is like the commence- 

 ment of some paper-work flower, and can never be 



