OBSERVATIONS IN ENGLAND. l23 



fields ; anofclier the species of Wasps mainly noticed, and large 

 proportion amongst these of the V. vuhjaris ; also the observations of 

 the method of Wasps in dealing with flies and other insects ; and the 

 serviceableness of Hornets in destroying the common Wasps. 



On the 4th of October, Mr. Atmore wrote me as follows: — "Wasps 

 have been very abundant in this district, particularly in the fen or 

 marshland districts, where their ravages amongst the fruit have been, 

 I believe, unexampled. In the marshland districts of Lincolnshire, I 

 am told, on good authority, that they have been even more abundant 

 large numbers of nests frequently occurring within a very small area. 

 Cyanide of potassium has been largely used here for the destruction of 

 nests. I can only report the occurrence of four species here (of course 

 excepting Vespa crabro, the Hornet), viz., V. vulgaris, V. yermanica, 

 V. riifa, and V. sylvestris. Banks of streams and ditches have of course 

 been more generally used by the ground species for nests ; but many 

 nests have occurred in old rockery of gardens, and beneath fences, and 

 instances of nests in ground of open fields have also come to my notice. 

 Nests in the latter situation have caused much trouble and annoyance 

 to horses and men engaged in ploughing. Old roofs of houses have 

 also been freely patronised for nests, especially by V. r/ermanica. The 

 nests of V. vulgaris have been most frequent : probably at least 80 per 

 cent, of the nests here have been those of that species. V. yermanica 

 has been commoner than V. rufa, but nests of V. sylvestris, upon fruit 

 trees and Currant bushes, have been fairly common. V. sylvestris 

 generally is a rarity here, although I am aware it is generally common 

 in the south. 



'* Wasps being so much to the fore this year, I have had oppor- 

 tunities now and again of making observations as to their insect-killing 

 propensities. I have often seen them seize flies on the window with 

 their mandibles, and retain them in the mouth for a long time as they 

 fly round the room, or run up and down windows. I do not think that 

 they generally kill flies as food for themselves, but I have watched 

 them entering nests with flies and other insects, which seems to indi- 

 cate that they are intended for consumption by their larvae, or grubs.* 

 Once I witnessed a Wasp seize a small white butterfly {Pieris rapa) and 

 carry it off, I suppose to its nest. Larvae of Lepidoptera have also 

 been destroyed by them here in large numbers ; and certainly larvse 

 of Macro-Lepidoptera have not occurred this autumn in such numbers 

 as I had expected to find them. 



* This view is entirely in accordance with the peculiarities of the internal 

 structure of the Wasps in imago condition, and with what is shown as to the nature 

 of a part of the food of the larvae, by the undigested remains to be found in the 

 blind pouch when moulted off. See observations under the heading of food, at 

 the latter part of this paper. 



