124 WASPS. 



" Hornets (F. crahro) have also been unusually plentiful here, the 

 nests, as usual, occurring generally in hollow trees. These powerful 

 insects seem to be as fond of destroying Wasps, as Wasps themselves 

 are of destroying flies. I have several times witnessed this habit of 

 theirs." 



Worcestershire. — On applying to Mr. J. Hiam, The Wren's Nest, 

 Astwood Bank, near Kedditch, with regard to what he might have 

 observed of Hornet presence in the past season, he informed me that 

 " Hornets," Vespa crahro, had been more numerous than ever remem- 

 bered in that locality, and also for a few miles round. Eight nests had 

 come under his own observation, and he had heard of others being 

 taken at a short distance beyond the extent of his own walks. 



Later on, on November 9th, Mr. Hiam favoured me with the results 

 of his further enquiries as to amount of Hornets' nests observed, and 

 damage done by the insects, as follows : — " I find there were about a 

 score of nests within a few miles that were known of, and doubtless 

 others in woods and lonely places would escape observation. Con- 

 siderable damage was done in gentlemen's gardens to wall fruits of the 

 best sorts, and also to fruit in orchards, and in the fields, to cider fruit; 

 but tlie latter has been so plentiful and cheap, that it is hardly worth 

 taking into account. 



" I have taken a large quantity of queen Hornets from various 

 nests, some of which I have alive now (November 9th). This will 

 materially lessen the number of nests next season, but from what I 

 know of several colonies in inaccessible positions, in roofs of houses 

 and otherwise, a large increase may be expected." 



Mr. Hiam further remarked with regard to the habit of the Hornets 

 of stripping young bark : — " Near one Hornets' nest I noticed the 

 young Ash sticks had been stripped in pieces of the bark all round, or 

 in other cases in patches, which is not unusual, but for the exact pur- 

 pose I am not quite certain, because the combs, and paper covering on 

 the outside of nests, appear to be composed entirely of dead rotten 

 wood, nicely blended in coloured layers. Hornets also take the sap 

 oozing from wounds, whether caused by Hornets or otherwise, of the 

 Elm, and also tap Dahlia stems, and suck the flowing sap." 



Some very good figures of shoots of Ash, and also of Birch, injured 

 by removal of bark by the Hornets, will be found at p. 405 of the 

 valuable volume by Dr. J. Ritzema Bos on animals injurious and 

 useful in agriculture, horticulture, &c.* Dr. Ritzema Bos, speaking 

 on the following page of the damage done by Wasps (including in this 

 of course Hornets) in this way, notes that although the building 



* 'Tierisehe Schadlinge und Niitzlinge fur Ackerbau,' &o., von Dr, J. Ritzema 

 Bos. Paul Parey, Berlin. 



