MAY. 115 



These insects make their nests in hanks composed of 

 light soil, and prefer a southern aspect. They excavate 

 holes of a cylindrical form, nearly a foot in depth, of such a 

 diameter as to admit the insect : in making these burrows, 

 they remove the earth grain by grain, and throw it up out- 

 side, in the form of a hillock ; some species penetrate in a 

 horizontal, others in a perpendicular direction. They con- 

 struct a cell at the bottom of the hole, which they partly 

 fill with pollen, made into a paste with honey ; and in this 

 they deposit their eggs, taking care to stop up the mouth 

 of the hole carefully, to prevent the ingress of Ants or 

 other insects which might injure the young larvae. There 

 are many other interesting genera in this numerous family 

 which cannot be described here : they all consist of two kinds 

 of individuals only, the males and females ; they are not 

 therefore strictly social insects, like the Hive and Humble 

 Bees, the true Wasps and Ants, all of which are provided 

 with neuters, for the due support of the community. 



HYMENOPTERA. VESPIIXZE. 



VESPA; 



Generic Distinctions.' Antenna generally elbowed, and thickened 

 i 2 



