119 



WASPS. 



Ground-building and Tree Wasps. Vespida; of various species. 





h J.U. 



Nest of Tree Wasp, after sketch from original specimen by Editor. Dimensions 

 eight inches across by seven and a half deep. 



Tlie year 1893, it will be remembered, was remarkable for a preva- 

 lence of Wasp presence in many parts of England, and some parts of 

 Scotland; amoanting to a very serious trouble, from losses to fruit- 

 growers by consumption of their crops ; inconvenience and sometimes 

 dangerous accident both to men and horses in field work from 

 onslaughts of enraged Wasps out of ploughed-up or disturbed nests ; 

 also, indoors, unbounded inconvenience from intrusion of the pests, 

 even into the food in the act of passing from the plate to the lips, and 

 in shops where available materials for their use was procurable, 

 unceasing depredations during the day for their own benefit, or 

 transportation to the home nurseries. 



The details of the " Wasp-plague," as it was truly described, 



