SOCIAL-WASPS. 



83 



nest was not much larger than a rose, and was com- 

 posed of paper exactly similar to that employed by 

 the common ground-wasp. 



There is another species of social-wasp (Epipone 

 nidulans, Latr.) meriting attention from the singu- 

 lar construction of its nest. It forms one or more 

 terraces of cells, similar to those of the common wasp, 

 but without the protection of an outer wall, and quite 

 exposed to the weather. Swammerdam found a nest 

 of this description attached to the stem of a nettle. 

 Reaumur says they are sometimes attached to the 

 branch of a thorn or other shrub, or to stalks of grass; 

 — pecuHarities which prove that there are several 

 species of these wasps. 



The most remarkable circumstance in the arclii- 



Wasp^s Cells attached to ahranch. 



