ANTS, WASPS, AND BEES. 215 



drying to be un distinguishable from the rest of the 

 sheet to which it is attached. 



The outer walls, or shell of the nest, are first con- 

 structed, so that it is difficult to watch the processes 

 by which the ceils are formed. The material 

 appears to be the same as the external shell, but 

 thicker and more compact, and the nests are often 

 more irregular than the comb constructed by the 

 hive bee. 



The Hedge Wasp l generally builds in low bushes or 

 hedgerows, but sometimes in trees. The outline of 

 the nest is pear-shaped. The opening is on one side, 

 and often, instead of a simple hole, there is a kind of 

 porch, in which the sentinel, whom it is the habit of 

 this wasp to post, mounts guard. 



The Wood Wasp 2 makes a nest of quite a distinct 

 character. It is, from the first, of a ball or bell shape. 

 At the bottom is a round hole, with the edges 

 slightly turned out. Over this are laid one or more 

 separate hoods of the same slight, graceful con- 

 struction, but not reaching so far down as the mouth 

 of the bell in which the second coat terminates. The 

 resemblance of this nest to a toy bell led to this 

 insect receiving the name of the Bell Wasp. 

 Finally, this nest assumes a pear-shape with a central 

 aperture. 



The social life of wasps is a subject of interest, 

 inasmuch as it differs in some points, whilst it 

 resembles in others, that of ants and bees. Quoting 

 again from Dr. Ormerod, he says, " When a wasp 



1 Vespa Britannica. 3 Vespa sylvestris. 



