in three points; but the form of the tail varies in every one of the three 

 specimens which I possess. 



In one, the tail terminates in a bifurcation ; and, by careful inspection 

 with a lens, a fold is perceptible in the last articulating ring of the ab- 

 domen, which, it is evident, would have been obliterated by the approxi- 

 mation of the bifurcating points. That the animal, therefore, possessed 

 the power of opening and of shutting these, appears to be highly pro- 

 bable ; and the appearances yielded by another specimen authorizes the 

 opinion, that these, on closing, formed a sheath for the sting of the ani- 

 mal; and, on being opened, left it in a state fit to inflict a wound. An 

 apparently cylindrical body is seen standing out between the bifurcation, 

 and may be even traced some little way within the abdomen. In a 

 third specimen, which, from its having lost its legs, has very much the 

 appearance of a pupa, the caudal termination is in a single point, giving 

 to me the idea of the bifurcating points being united, and inclosing the 

 sting. 



Plate XVII. Fig. 2, a, represents the animal with the bifurcating 

 sheath : b, shows the sting, which has passed out of the sheath : and c, 

 shows the termination in a single point ; which I suppose to be formed 

 by the closing of the bifurcated sheath over the sting. 



The most accurate examination which I have been able to make does 

 not enable me to discover any traces of wings. The legs, which I am 

 of opinion are eight in number, are attached to the breast. If these in- 

 sects have not been despoiled of their wings, and if my observations have 

 been correct, they cannot any longer be considered as belonging to the 

 genus Vespa : but, it being admitted that they were apterous insects, I yet 



must acknowledge my inability to dispose of them under any known 







genus. 



Lhwydd, in a postscript to a letter to Dr. Richardson, thus speaks 

 of the remains of insects, which he had perceived in coal-slate. 

 *' Scripsi olim suspicari me Araneorum quorundam icones, una cum 



