VESPID.E. 213 



the comb increases in dimensions they construct a flat roof or 

 covering ; when the first comb is completed they commence to 

 build upon the flattened roof, laying the hexagonal foundations at 

 once, sharp and angular, from the flattened roof; one, two, three 

 or more planes are in different instances to be seen, merely as it 

 were chalked out by the slightest amount of elevation possible. 

 It is a fact worthy of notice, that the cells in the foundation- 

 comb of the nest of a social wasp are always amongst the 

 smallest, if not the very smallest, to be found in the nest when 

 it is completed, and these are constructed by one of the largest 

 individuals in the community the female ; whilst towards the 

 end of the season, the largest cells, those of the males and 

 females, are constructed by the smallest wasps the workers, 

 the foundation-cells being in fact too small even to admit of the 

 head of the female, proving that the walls are built up exteriorly, 

 not excavated or dug out, as has been stated to be the case in 

 the construction of the combs of the Hive-Bee. 



Three of the species of British wasps build their nests in trees 

 or bushes; the form of construction corresponds with that of 

 the ground wasps ; but they are of a much firmer texture, and 

 capable of resisting the effects of wind, rain, and changes of 

 temperature to which they are necessarily exposed. 



The Social Wasps are amongst the most courageous of the 

 insect tribe, some of the Formicidce alone perhaps equaling 

 them. Wasps, however, seldom attack when unmolested ; but 

 should their citadel be threatened, with a courage every one 

 must admire, they boldly and perseveringly resent such at- 

 tempts. We, who have made companions of them in our own 

 apartment, can testify to their never attacking those who leave 

 them unmolested to pursue their industrious avocations. From 

 the much-abused, and too often cruelly treated wasp, we may 

 learn an admirable lesson of parental care, of courage in the 

 defence of her young brood, and of careful and cleanly house- 

 wifery, no particle of rubbish of any kind being suffered to 

 strew her dwelling. The number of individuals which compose 

 the different communities of the species varies considerably; nests 

 which I have examined, taken in autumn, fell very far short of 

 that estimated by Reaumur as likely to be found in a populous 

 community, namely 30,000 : the largest number that I ever ob- 

 tained was 2590 ; to this amount must be added about 100 

 which were not in the nest when the community was destroyed, 

 but which were assembled about the spot whence it was taken 

 the next morning. It is very clear from Reaumur's account that 

 he estimated the entire number of cells, 10,000, and then sup- 

 posed each might have cradled three successive larvae, which can 



