88 Insect Architecture. 



from the lower ones, queens or females ; and from the inter- 

 mediate ones, males. Workers become developed early in 

 the season, males not till an advanced period ; and young 

 females or queens not until towards the close of the season. 



" The nests of V. crabro, V. vulgaris, and V. germanica, 

 when of full size, measure not unfrequently twelve inches in 

 diameter, the communities working on, in a favourable season, 

 until the month of November ; while the labours of the 

 other species close, and the communities break up towards 

 the end of August ; their nests scarcely attaining to half the 

 size of those above mentioned." 



The accompanying illustration exhibits the nest of the 

 common wasp in an early stage. The first cover has been 



Nest of Wasp in an early stage. 



completed, and a second is in course of progress. We have 

 now before us a beautiful series of wasps' nests, in their 

 various stages, prepared by Mr. Stone, in order to show the 

 progressive enlargement of the edifice. 



First, there is the single cell attached to a small part that 

 had penetrated the roof of the burrow. Next comes a more 

 advanced stage, in which three cells are made, and the roof 

 is just begun, being not quite half an inch in diameter. 

 Then come five cells, and a tolerably large roof ; and then 

 twelve cells, with a complete roof. 



The next stage is that which is represented in the illustra- 

 tion, where the group of cells is seen suspended from its 

 slender footstalk, and a second covering is in progress. By 

 degrees the nest enlarges until the second layer or tier of 



