HYMENOPTERA. 



workers, and males or drones. The nests are formed of a kind of paper manu- 

 factured from the dry parings of old posts and trees. Since we have already dealt 

 briefly with the general habits of the Vespidce, further reference to them, save as 

 occasion for their mention arises in the course of subsequent description of species, 

 will be unnecessary. The members of the family may themselves be distinguished 

 at once from all other Hymenoptera by the peculiar arrangement of the wings 

 when folded at rest. The fore -wings partly enclose the hind- wings, both pairs 

 lying along the sides of the abdomen, not concealing it from above. The food of 

 wasps consists of the saccharine matter derived from various vegetable products 

 and also from animal matter. As regards the distribution of species apart from 

 the usual increase in size and beauty of colouring it may be remarked that the 

 closer the equatorial regions are approached, the more numerous do members of 



LIFE-HISTORY OF THE HORNET. 



a, I, Adult; c, Portion of brood-cells ; d, Larva; e, Pupa, (d and e somewhat enlarged.) 



this group become. Of the better-known forms the common hornet ( Vespa crabro) 

 is readily distinguished from other species of wasps by its large size and the 

 prevailing red tint on the anterior portions of the body. It is universally dis- 

 tributed throughout Europe, and occurs as far north as Lapland. The solitary 

 female, after her hibernation, commences to build the first foundation of her nest 

 in May on some convenient beam in a loft or outhouse, or frequently in the 

 holes made in the eaves of thatched cottages by sparrows. The food of the grubs 

 consists of the bodies of insects, bees, etc., which the workers chew up for their 

 benefit. On the approach of autumn the remaining larvae, which have not yet 

 been hatched out, are torn from their cells and left to perish. Under the title of 

 common wasps no less than five species may be included, although V. vulgaris is 

 the common wasp par excellence. V. germanica may be recognised by the three 



