168 
once again settled on it. A brief examination of the 
external features of a nest (Fig. 96) convinced me 
that it was made up of cells placed in irregular tiers, 
each consisting of four or five cells arranged in more 
or less spiral fashion, the lowest and terminal open 
passageways or cells now being the only objects of 
the wasp’s solicitude. But when I saw two of these 
slender insects each enter a terminal narrow passage 
and disappear far within, I wondered at the nest’s 
structure. Dissection revealed an entirely different 
household arrangement. The serpentine passage* ex- 
tended the length of the nest and gave forth vertical 
pockets or cells used as brood chambers by the wasps. 
Fig. 97 shows the arrangement of a nest of medium 
size, and although there is more or less irregularity 
in cell disposition, the vertical entrances to the cells 
are almost invariably, if not always, at 
Fig. 96. approximately right angles to the one 
Nest of above and below, and thus alternate 
ee saatids openings (passages at the terminal por- 
ee tion of the inner cell wall) are in the 
About x same vertical plane. This probably comes 
3/4 about from the spiral arrangement of the 
passageway. In commencing a nest, one 
or several wasps may do the work; naturally, cells are 
first made, and these harbor an egg before their com- 
pletion, and when sufficiently lengthened turn into a 
passageway. 
A brief search revealed several nests; one was sus- 
pended from a slender fern, while another proved the 
largest of the lot, an affair of over 20 cells and har- 
boring at least six wasps, several of which were fe- 
males. This is the nest illustrated by Fig. 96, and 
it measures 170 mm. in length by 7.5 mm. in diameter, 
or about the dimensions of an ordinary lead pencil. 
The nest suspended from the fern was a beautiful 
structure, showing in bands, the differently-shaded 
nest material, probably earth and decayed wood. I 
thought to secure this also, but desirous of having the 
unsuspecting inhabitants add to its length, delayed the 
robbery. I was anticipated, however, by another 
Stenogaster enemy, no doubt the large pillaging Vespa 
deusta, who wrecked this home four times in eight 
“TI suspect that there may be sometimes two passages in the stouter nests. 


