Queries and Answers. 195 
placed may have rendered the extension of the inner covering unnecessary ; 
for, though there is great uniformity in the nidus built by each individual of 
each distinct species of insect, yet, under varying circumstances, they will 
at times vary their plan of operation, as Huber proved by his experiments 
on bees. — John Thompson. Hull, Jan. 1i. 1830. . 
Nidus attached toa Reed. — Sir, In answer to your correspondent G. M. (p 94.), I should sup- 
pose the “ nidus attached to a reed” to be the nest of the solitary wasp (Véspa campanaria), of 
which an account is given in that interesting work the Journal of a Naturalist, p. 533., as well as 
a plate at the end of the book. 1am, Sir, &c.— W. H., RN. Yeovil, Jan. 13. 1830. 
A curious Ball containing Bees. — One of your correspondents in the Magazine of Natural History 
(Vol. II. p. 404.) requests information respecting ** a curious bali containing bees,” which he found 
suspended from the roof of a hen-house ; and, as I see no reply to his enquiry in the November Num- 
ber, from a more able hand, I venture to send you the following account, accompanied with a sketch 
( fig. 39.) of a similar nest, which will, perhaps, satisfy his curiosity. About three years ago, J 
found a deserted habitation, of very delicate structure, 
and of a greyish colour, adhering to the ceiling of a 
verandah, which was overgrown with the purple 
Clématis. The texture was very like that of thin 
unsized (blotting) paper; and I was quite at a loss 
to guess by what insect it had been constructed, till 
I met with an account of it in Rees’s Cyclopedia 
(article Véspa), in which, on the authority of M. 
Latreille, it is attributed to the workmanship of 
the Véspa holsatica of Fabricius. Since that time I 
have seen a more accurate description of it in the 
Journal of a Naturalist. The intelligent, though 
unknown [L. Knapp, Esq., F.L.S.J, author, speak- 
ing of the variety and delicate construction of the 
nests of insects, says: —‘** Among those with which 
I am acquainted, none pleases me more than that 
of a solitary wasp (Véspa campanaria) which occa- 
sionally visits us here, It is not a common insect ; 
but I have met with their nests: one was fixed be- 
neath a piece of oak bark placed in a pile; another 
was pendent in the hollow of a bank of earth. The 
materials which composed these abodes seemed to be 
particles scraped or torn from the dry parts of the 
willow, sallow, or some such soft wood, and cemented 
again by animal glue, very similar in texture to that 
provided by the common wasp, which makes great 
use of the half-decayed wood of the ash, and will penetrate through crevices in the bark, to abrade 
away thedry wood beneath. They seem to have but small families, ten or twelve cells only being 
provided. These are situated at the bottom of an egg-shaped cup, contracted at the lower end, where 
an orifice is left for the entrance. ‘This, again, is covered in the part where the cells are placed, by 
a loose hood or shed, extending about half way down the inner one. The pendent situation of the 
whole, and this external hood, round which the air has a free circulation, are admirably contrived 
for securing the cells from injury by water. The nest, when hanging in its proper situation, is 
like the commencement of some paper-work flower, and can never be observed but with admir- 
ation of the clegance of its structure; and the unusual appearance of the whole must excite the 
attention of the most incurious observer of such things.’ If you consider these particulars worthy 
a place in the Magazine, they are quite at your service; and I beg to remain, Sir, yours, &c. — 
Vim. Stowe. Buckingham, Dec. 4. 1829. 
Curious Property of a Flys Eye. — Goldsmith, in his Animated Nature, 
mentions the fact of an experiment made upon a fly’s eye, placed in such 
a position that objects might be seen through it, by means of a micro- 
scope ; when it was discovered, that the power it possessed of multiplying 
and diminishing objects was incalculable; so that a single soldier, when 
viewed through it, appeared a whole army of pygmies. Is it likely that the 
fly itself sees in this manner, or can the powers of the human eye itself have 
any thing to do with this extraordinary appearance ? — MM. Jan. 1830. 
Skate Spawn. — Ih answer to the query of Mr. Brown of Boston (p. 93), 
I should say there can be no doubt that the transparent jelly-like masses, 
which he describes as so frequently cast on the shore near Boston, are a 
species of the Medtsa; most likely Medtsa aurita, I should conceive, from 
his description, or probably Medtsa capitata, though I should think the for- 
2 ? é See 
mer. As Mr. Brown seems to be an inhabitant of the sea coast, I am sur- 
prised at his not having seen these animals in motion more than once; for 
1, who only very seldom see the sea, have noticed hundreds of the Medisa 
aurita moving in the manner he describes off the coast of Scarborough. The 
Greenland captains here inform us that a very minute species of this animal, 
and a kind of small shrimp, which are found in myriads in the Greenland 
seas, form the principal food of the whale.— John Thompson. Hull, Fan. 11. 
1830, 
o..2 
