THE HORNET. 269 



One nest, when of moderate size,- was removed from the 

 head of a tree, and placed in a large glazed box similar to 

 those which have been mentioned in connection with the wasp. 

 Within the box the Hornets continued their labours, and a 

 most beautiful nest was produced, symmetrical in shape, and 

 variegated with wonderfully rich colours. 'Such a nest as 

 that,' writes Mr. Stone, 'is not produced by Hornets in a 

 general way. They do not trouble themselves to form much 

 of a covering, especially when a small cavity in the head of a 

 tree is selected, which is often the case. The walls of the 

 chamber they consider a sufficient protection for the combs. 



' If you expect them to form a substantial covering, the 

 combs must be so placed as to have ample space around them, 

 and if you expect them to fabricate a covering of great beauty, 

 you must select the richest coloured woods, and such as form 

 the most striking contrasts, and place them so that the insects 

 shall be induced, nay, almost compelled, to use them in the 

 construction of their nest. This is exactly what I did with 

 reference to the nest in question.' 



Knowing from experience the difficulty of assaulting a 

 Hornet's nest, I asked Mr. Stone how he performed the task, 

 and was told that his chief reliance was placed on chloroform. 

 Approaching very cautiously to the nest, he twists some cotton 

 wool round the end of a stick, soaks it in chloroform, and 

 pushes it into the aperture. A mighty buzzing immediately 

 arises, but is soon silenced by the chloroform, and as soon as 

 this result has happened, mallet, chisel, and saw are at work, 

 until the renewed buzzing tells that the warlike insects are re- 

 covering their senses, and will soon be able to use their for- 

 midable weapons. The chloroform is then re-applied until 

 they are quieted, and the tools are again taken up. 



The extrication of a nest from a hollow tree is necessarily a 

 long and tedious process, on account of the frequent interrup- 

 tions. Even if the insects did not interfere with the work, the 

 labour of cutting a nest out of a tree is much harder than could 

 be imagined by those who have not tried it. 



Moreover, the habits of Hornets are not quite like those of 



