286 STRANGE DWELLINGS. 



probably clue to the long residence in a room which is always 

 kept warm and dry by artificial means. In the open air, and 

 in the ever damp, though hot atmosphere of tropical America, 

 the clay would probably be much tougher, without losing the 

 necessary hardness. 



The combs are not flat, like those of an ordinary wasp-nest, 

 but are very much curved, so that when the nest is laid open 

 they almost follow the curv'e of the walls. This peculiar form 

 of the comb is shown in the illustration. The cells are not 

 very large, scarcely equalling the worker cells of the common 

 burrowing wasp of England. 



One of the most remarkable points in the construction of 

 this nest is the entrance. In pensile nests, the insect usually 

 forms the opening below, so that it may be sheltered from the 

 wind and rain. Moreover, it is usually of small dimensions, 

 evidently in order to prevent the inroads of parasitic insects 

 and other foes, and to give the sentinels a small gateway to 

 defend. But the particular Wasp which built this remarkable 

 nest seems to have set every rule at defiance, and to have 

 shown an entire contempt of foes and indifference to rain. 



As may be seen by reference to the illustration, the entrance 

 is extremely long, though not wide, and extends through nearly 

 the length of the nest, so that the edges of the combs can be 

 seen by looking into the aperture. The edges of the entrance 

 are rounded, so that the outer edge is wider than the inner ; 

 but it is still sufficiently wide to allow the little finger of a 

 man's hand to be passed into the interior ; wliile its length is 

 so great, that forty or fifty insects might enter or leave the nest 

 together. 



