HYMENOPTERA. S5K 



twenty to thirty cells, those on the sides being the smallest. It 

 is usually attached to the branch of a shrub. 

 Sometimes again the abdomen is ovoid or conical, as in 



P. nidulans ; Vespa nididans, Fab.; Guepe carlonniere, 

 Reaum., Insect., VI, xx, 1, 3, 4; xxi, 1 ; xxii — xxiv. Small, of 

 a silken black with yellow spots ; posterior margin of the abdo- 

 minal annuli of the same colour. Its nest, which is suspended 

 to branches of trees by a ring, is composed of a fine material, and 

 has the form of a truncated cone. The combs, of which the 

 number augments in proportion to the population, and some- 

 times gives a considerable size to the nest, are circular, but 

 concave above and convex underneath, or infundibuliform and 

 perforated with a circular hole. They are fixed to the internal 

 parietes of the envelope throughout the whole of their circum- 

 ference. The lower one is smooth beneath or destitvite of cells ; 

 its opening is the door of the nest. As fast as the population 

 increases, these AVasps form a new floor, and furnish the inferior 

 surface of the old one with cells. 

 In the remaining Wasps, the superior portion of the internal 

 margin of their mandibles, that which comes after the angle, is as 

 long as the other part, or longer. The middle of the anterior margin 

 of their clypeus is widely truncated, and has a tooth on each side. 

 The abdomen is always ovoidal or conical. They comprise the 

 genus Vespa proper of Latreille. 



Vespa, Lai* 



V. crabo, L.; Guepe frelon, Pceaum., Insect., VI,xviii. Length 

 one inch ; head fulvous, Avith a yellow front ; thorax black, spot- 

 ted with fulvous; rings of the abdomen blackish brown, marked 

 Avith a yellow band dotted with two or three black points on its 

 posterior margin. 



It builds its nest in sheltered localities, such as garrets, barns, 

 holes in Avails, and hoUoAV trees. The nest is rounded, formed 

 of a coarse material, and of the colour of a dead leaf. The 

 combs, of which there are xisually but fcAV, are connected with 

 each other by pillars or columns, the middle one much the 

 thickest. The envelope is usually thick and friable. This 

 species devours other Insects, particularly Bees, and robs the 

 latter of their honey. 



V. vulgaris ; G. commune, Reaum., Ibid., XIV, 1, 7- About 

 eight lines in length ; black ; front of the head yellow, Avith a 

 black point in the middle ; several yelloAV spots on the thorax, 

 and four on the scutellum ; a yelloAV band Avith three black spots 

 on the posterior margin of the rings of the abdomen. 



It constructs in the earth a nest analogous to that of the crabo, 

 but composed of a finer substance, and Avith more numerous 

 comJjs. The columns Avhich support them are equal. Its en- 

 velope consists of several lamince, ari'anged in bands, Avhich 

 overlap each other's edges. 



* Lat., Gen. Crust, t Insect., IV, p. 142. 



