Icarias. 



177 



of a paper-like substance, much resembling in look the 

 material of which the common wasp builds its cells, but as 

 they are exposed to the air, they are necessarily tougher and 

 stronger than ordinary wasp cells, which are shielded from the 

 elements. The insects belonging to this genus make nests 



of very diverse forms, Borne of which are stuck on leaves in 

 a most curious manner, reminding the observer of the 

 parasitic mollercoids that cover the stems and fronds of large 

 seaweeds. Others, however, are not dependent upon leaves for 

 their support, but stand out boldly from the branches to 

 which they are fixed, supported entirely by a foot-stalk com- 

 posed of the same material as the cells, though necessarily of 

 a harder and more compact substance. 



[As many of these nests have been found in India, it is 

 easy to trace the manner in which they were made. The 

 mother insect began by kneading woody fibre into a paste, 



