106 Insect Architecture. 



papery consistence, like that of the European wasps, sus- 

 pended from the branches of a small shrub about a foot from 

 the ground : he and two other attendants partook of some 

 honey (contained in its cells) and found it of an agreeable 

 sweetness, free from the pharmaceutic taste which so fre- 

 quently accompanies European honey. He gives a detailed 

 account of its poisonous effects on himself and his two men. 

 Afterwards he procured specimens of the wasp, which was de- 

 scribed by Latreille under the name of Polistes Lecheguana" 



[The accompanying illustration shows this remarkable nest,, 

 both as it appears externally, and when divided vertically. 



The material is probably the dung of the Capincha, an 

 animal allied to the guinea-pig and the agouti. The natives, 

 at all events, state that such is the case, and the aspect of 

 the nest as seen through a magnifying glass carries out this 

 assertion. The nest is hung to a branch, and is seldom more 

 than four feet from the ground. The insect is a very little 

 one in comparison with the size of the nest, which is sixteen 

 inches in length, and twelve in width. The largest speci- 

 mens of this insect are only one third of an inch long, while 

 the generality scarcely exceed a quarter of an inch. Its 

 colour is brown. 



In the section is shown the very peculiar shape of the 

 combs. At the upper part is seen the globular centre, sur- 

 rounded with a comb that completely encircles it. Other 

 combs follow in order, but are less curved as they approach 

 the bottom of the nest. The insects obtain admission to the 

 several tiers by means of apertures which are left between 

 the extremities of the comb and the wall of the nest. The 

 combs are made of the same material as the outer wall, but 

 are very thin and paper-like. This nest may be seen in the 

 British Museum.] 



It would seem that the nest described by Mr. White 

 agrees with that of a wasp termed Chiguana by Azara (or 

 Leclieguana\ and is very different to the slight papery nest 

 of the Polistes Lecheguana of Latreille. We may add that 

 M. Auguste de St. Hilaire speaks of two species of wasps 

 remarkable for storing honey in South America ; the honey 



