HORNETS: BRITISH AND FOREIGN. 31a 
after her hibernation, commences to build the first foundation 
of her nest in May, on some convenient beam in a loft or 
outhouse, or frequently in the holes made in the eaves of 
thatched cottages by sparrows. The food of the grubs 
consists of bodies of msects, bees, etc., which the workers 
chew up for their benefit. On the approach of autumn, the 
remaining larvee, which have not yet been hatched out, are 
torn from their cells and left to perish.” 
“ Encyclopedia Britannica,” vol. xxiv, p. 392. 
“The hornet (V. crabro) is the largest species occwring in 
Great Britain. ‘They have a more distinctly red colour 
than the common wasp, and appear to be almost confined to 
the southern half of England. Their nests resemble those 
described above, but are larger; they are found in hollow 
trees or deserted outhouses. Their communities are smaller 
in number than those of wasps. The hornet, when it occurs 
in any number, does a considerable amount of damage to 
forest trees by gnawing the bark off the younger branches to 
obtain material for constructing its nest. It usually selects 
the ash or alder, but sometimes attacks the lime, birch, and 
willow. Like the wasp, it does much damage to fruit, upon 
the juices of which it lives.” 
Extract from Kirby's “Text Book of Entomology,” p. 128. 
«The hornet (Vespa crabro, Linn.) is nearly half as large 
again as the other species, from which it may be distinguished 
by its redder colour and the row of reddish spots on each 
side of the abdomen. Some species of wasps construct their 
nests in the ground, and others in trees ; these nests are com- 
posed of a material resembling thin coarse brown paper. 
The hornet is less numerous than the smaller wasps; it lives 
in smaller communities, and is not only a much less abundant 
species, but appears to be aimost confined to the South of 
England; on the continent it is much more generally 
abundant. But it is not a quarrelsome insect, though its 
powerful sting makes it formidable if molested. It generally 
constructs its nest in hollow trees, but will also build under 
the eaves of houses. The wasps coustruct their nests of 
rasped wood or bark; and I possess a beautiful hornets’ nest 
which was found fixed to the rafter of a house at Colchester 
which was being rebuilt, It has every appearance of being 
constructed of deal shavings.” 
