500 



INSECTS ABROAD. 



Iii the accompanying illustration, the upper and smaller 

 figure represents the male, and the lower figure the perfect 

 female. The single figure represents the neuter, or worker wasp. 



The habits of this wasp are admirably described by Mr. 

 Home in the essay to which reference has so often been made. 

 In this account Mr. Home seems to have some doubt as to the 

 truth of the report that horses have been stung to death by 

 these wasps. I think it very likely to be true. Some years 

 ago I saw, only a few miles from my house, a wasp's nest, the 

 inmates of whieh had actually killed a carriage-horse on the 

 preceding day. 



Fig. 271. — Vespa cincta. 

 (Dark brown ami yellow.) 



"They build their nests of prepared earth, strongly impreg- 

 nated with some viscid substance, probably derived from the 

 gums of trees. 



" In confirmation of the above, I may remark that I have 

 often seen them sitting, apparently eating the gum of the 

 Acacia {Catechu), and also the flowing juice of the Peepul-tree 

 (Ficus Indica), and as they are in general carnivorous, it must 

 have been for some such purpose. At the same time there 

 appears to be some woody, or at least vegetable fibre, mixed 

 with the earth. 



"The cells are regular hexagons, and built from an hexagonal 

 ground-plan — a fact which confirms Mr. Smith's observations to 

 the same effect — and the whole structure often assumes a large 

 size. One found by me was 10" x 0" x 0", in the centre of a 

 wall composed of sunburnt bricks, in ;i hollow which had been 



