WOOD, TREE, AND MUD WASPS 



its nest from the branch of a bush or tree. We had 

 one in Letchworth Museum which was built in a goose- 

 berry bush at the time the fruit was on the branch, and 

 this created a great deal of interest. But the most 

 attractive example of an exposed Wasp's nest I have 

 ever seen was suspended in a birch bush over water 

 along the west bank of the pretty Crinan Canal, near 

 Ardrishaig, Argyllshire, in September, 1922. I observed 

 the beautiful tapered structure when saiUng up the 

 canal to Crinan on board S.S. Linnet, and several 

 passengers whose attention I called to it remarked that 

 it was like a small Chinese-lantern. When I walked 

 back along the waterway later in the day, I had a closer 

 inspection of my treasure. I found it was most cleverly 

 suspended from a pliant branch right over the water, 

 and that the occupants were busily going in and out 

 through a hole at the base. I was much tempted to 

 dislodge the nest, but hardly cared to venture without 

 first dealing with the owners, and I had reluctantly to 

 leave it behind. 



The Tree Wasp (Vespa norvegica) always suspends 

 its nest from the branches of trees and bushes, but the 

 Mud Wasp [Odynerus parietum) which, as will be seen, 

 belongs to a different genus, adopts entirely different 

 methods. The cell walls are built of mud, and the 

 nest, as a rule, is placed in any suitable hole. I know 

 of three curious places, one in the centre of a reel of 

 cotton, a second in a blind-tassel, and a third was placed 

 in a roll of canvas, the group of cells being attached 

 H 93 



