Social- Wasps. 



109 



those of social hymenoptera. The greater part, such as the 

 various wasps, hornets, and their kin, have the mouths of tho 

 cells downwards, while the cells of the hive-bee are nearly 

 horizontal. But the cells of this insect are arranged without 

 the least regard to their position, all the bases pointing 

 towards the centre of the nest, and all the mouths radiating 

 outwards. 



Nests of Synseca and Polybia. 



There seems to be scarcely any bound to the variety 

 which exists in the nests of the social hymenoptera. The 

 insect which makes the nest which is represented in the 

 illustration is a native of Brazil, and is known to entomo- 

 logists as SyncBca cyanea. The first of these names is given 

 to it on account of its social habits, and the second, in 

 reference to the bluish colour of its body. It is rather 

 larger than the preceding insects, being about three quarters 

 of an inch in length. Its wings are brown. 



