30 THE SOCIAL GROUPS 



It will be seen from these remarks that the three 

 social groups are very distinct in their methods 

 of nest making, and have really very little in 

 common except the social habit. The humble 

 bees have their cuckoos ; one species of wasp 

 has a cuckoo, and there is a possible case of a 

 cuckoo amongst the continental ants, but this 

 has not yet been observed in this country. The 

 ants harbour so many species of insects in their 

 nests besides their own family that it is difficult 

 to form an idea as to whether the case in ques- 

 tion is at all analogous to that of host and cuckoo 

 in the other aculeates or not. 



