374 STRANGE DWELLINGS. 



systematic manner, a group occupying the centre, and being 

 surrounded at a little distance with a row of covered cells which 

 follow the shape of the exterior outline, and therefore take the 

 shape of a hexagon. 



The insect well deserves its scientific title. The generic name 

 Apoica is formed from two Greek words, which signifies a 

 colony, and the specific i\i\Q pallida is given in reference to the 

 hue of the body. It is not a handsome nor even a striking 

 insect, being long, slender, and very pale yellow, looking as if 

 it had once been decorated with a brighter covering. It has 

 altogether a faded and semi-bleached look, suggesting to a 

 practical entomologist that it had been subjected to sulphur- 

 fumes, and thereby lost its colouring. Even the wings have 

 the same pallid hue as the body, but with a white cast, and 

 altogether the insect seems far too purposeless of aspect to 

 construct houses which demand so much energy as those which 

 we have just examined. 



Our last example of insect pensile nests is, I believe, one 

 that has not yet been described, owing to its recent arrival in 

 this country. 



Whilst I was examining some specimens in the insect-room 

 of the British Museum, two gentlemen brought for examination 

 a box full of insect habitations, which they could not identify 

 with those of any known species. At first sight they appeared 

 to be specimens of galls, but a more careful inspection soon 

 showed their real character. They were formed very much like 

 those of the Housebuilder Moth (see page i66), but with a 

 singular addition. Several specimens are now before me, which 

 will be briefly described. 



The foundation of the nest is a structure of leaf-stems and 

 fragments of leaves, vaiying much in size, some being thicker 

 than crowquills, and others as fine as ordinary needles. These 

 are arranged cross-wise upon each other, so that the nest might 

 easily be mistaken for that of a large caddis-worm. The nests, 

 however, differ much in form, size, and material, — some being 



