384 THE NATURAL HISTORY 



discovered in the roof of an unfrequented shed in the 

 gardens. Each nest was about two inches in diameter, 

 of a more delicate fabric than that of vulgaris, with 

 three distinct envelopes, the two inner ones enclosing 

 the whole of the combs, with a large aperture at the 

 bottom, the outer one embracing a little more than 

 the upper half only of the nest and presenting the 

 appearance 1 of an inverted cup. 



We have also seen several specimens of the nest of 

 another species, that of Vespa britannica (Leach), they 

 were very neat nearly globular structures, six or eight 

 inches in diameter, and attached to the branches of 

 apple trees and shrubs ; as, however, they were not 

 found in our Harting district, we only incidentally 

 allude to them. The food of wasps is various, they 

 prey on other insects, infest butchers' shops, help 

 themselves to any sweets within their reach, and feast 

 upon the ripest fruit in the garden, but whether this 

 general statement applies to all the members of the 

 family or to a few only, is not quite satisfactorily 

 made out, their specific distinctions and economy 

 require further investigation. 



The last great group of this order is that of the 

 Honey-gatherers, in which we find the solitary bees, 

 cuckoo bees and social bees. Among the first we 

 have met with several species of Andrena, which no 

 doubt are often mistaken for the common hive bee, 

 but in their economy they differ from it essentially. 

 They burrow in the ground, and with each egg they 

 deposit, they store up a supply of pollen paste, just 

 sufficient and no more, for the support of one larva 

 during the period of its development. A favourite 

 locality for one species of this genus (or offfa/ictaf) 

 is the trodden slope, with a sunny aspect, leading to 

 the Dog-kennel Pond in the Park, where we have 

 found several of its burrows within a few inches of 

 each other many seasons in succession. 



The species of Nomada which we have met with we 



