- 218 NATURAL HISTORY OF WASPS. 
Though the little bell disappears in the further 
development of the nest, yet the complete structure 
of V. sylvestris retams many of the characters which 
marked its early stage. We may always notice the 
broad, even sheets, with their free edges hanging in 
flounces; and the general lightness and slightness 
of the covering contrasts with that of the thick, 
strong nest of V. britannica. Like that, but in a less 
degree, this species makes its nest pyriform; and it 
uses the same materials, namely vegetable fibres. 
The aperture is central. The comb is less hollowed 
out on the upper surface, and there is less divergence 
of the lateral cells than we find in V. britannica. 
Both in the original construction and in subse- 
quent restoration of the nest V. sylvestris is less 
profusely extravagant of paper than the species last 
described. 
This is, according to her markings and her general 
habits, a tree-wasp. But no place comes amiss; 
hollow trees, caves, hedge-banks, and bee-hiyes are 
all in their turn honoured by her selection. I think 
that Gloucestershire is not as congenial to her as 
the drier parts of England. 
V. arborea is not represented in my cabinet, nor in 
the splendid collection in the British Museum; and 
I have been unable to obtain a specimen to engrave 
from any source. Though a ridge about four miles 
distant from Wakefield, in Yorkshire, and to the 
Naturalist,’ 8rd ed. p. 333, and Plate VI, fig. 1, its successive stages 
being very well represented. But the description was written before 
the Natural History of Wasps had been made clear by Mr. F. Smith, 
and V. campanaria is set down, p. 332, as a solitary wasp. 
