50 



GUIDE TO INSECTS. 



cover is very delicate, almost like tissue paper (473, 475, 497). In 

 their early stages these nests are pretty objects. Several are exhibited 

 in Table-case 46, and one in a more advanced state will be found 

 among the groups on the east side of the gallery (69). 



Two examples of a very remarkable nest are to be seen in this 

 case (501, 502). They are built entirely of clay, including the 

 comb. They have been found in South America, hanging from 

 branches, but no specimens of the insect have yet reached the 

 Museum (fig. 54). 



In the covered nests built by Social Wasps, two styles of building 



Fig. 55. 



IT 



Diagrams of wasps' nests. 



are noticeable. The common British wasps, Vespa, commence the 

 nest with a stalk attached to some object (fig. 55, A, s, a), with a 

 few cells suspended by it. Below this they suspend a second series 

 of cells, &, hanging by stalks from the first series, then a third series, 

 etc. The whole is surrounded by a cover or envelope, d, which has 

 an opening below, e ; this covering is enlarged as the combs are 

 increased in number and size. 



In the second style of nest(fig. 55 B) the cells are attached to some 

 leaf or branch, without a stalk, and when a row of cells (a) is com- 

 pleted it is enclosed in a thin cover (d) with an opening below, gene- 

 rally at one side. The second row of cells is built on the outside of 



