9460 Entomolugical Society . 



which were observed ibroughout the country. These insects made their appearance 

 and commenced their labours at an earlier period than I ever knew them do before. 



" Ou the 23rd of April I removed, from a chamber I bad formed the year before, 

 a small nest of Vespa germanica. It consisted of a foot-stalk with four cells 

 depending from it, two of which contained eggs, while above them a small umbrella- 

 shaped covering had been formed. 



" During the season I have had opportunities of removing and thoroughly 

 examining one hundred and ten nests, viz., forty-five of Vespa germanica, twenty- 

 seven of V. vulgaris, twenty-one of V. rufa, sixteen of V. sylvesiris, and one of 

 V. Crabro. Of these I have preserved a fine series, from specimens the work of two 

 or three hours, to those which have occupied as many mouths. I have also a series 

 of most odd-looking nests constructed by the workers of various colonies when the 

 original nests to which they behmjied had been taken away. 



" On the 30th of April I took out of a chamber I had constructed a few weeks 

 before a second nest of V. germanica : two coverings were in progress, and twelve 

 cells had been formed, most of which contained eggs. No sooner had this nest beeu 

 removed than the queen wasp set about the construction of another in the same 

 chamber, which I removed on the 2nd of May, when she immediately commenced 

 building a third, but a drenching and continuous ruin which came on caused her to 

 desert this nest, which I removed on the 4lh. 



" On the 2nd of May I also removed from another chamber I had formed a small 

 nest, or rather the commencement of one, of V. germanica. It conMsted of a single 

 cell at the extremity of a foot-stalk. Al 1 i'.m. this cell was empty ; at Ih. 30m. an egg 

 was found to have been deposited in it. Al 4 the specimen was removed, while the 

 queen wasp was out collecting building materials. On her return with the materials 

 she had procured she employed them in laying the foundation of a fresh nest in the 

 same chamber, which, in consequence of the rain aboie meuiioued, was deserted the 

 next day. It consisted of a single cell with fool-stalk. 



" Between the above date and ihe 22nd I removed, from chambers I had formed, 

 eight small nests of various species, which had become deserted in consequence of 

 damp, or the attacks of enemies, among which the centipede appeared to take a 

 prominent part. Underuealh two of the number a female or queeu wasp was found 

 lying dead ; but whether they were those belongiug to the nests, or strangers, is 

 uncertain. 



"On the 27th of June I took out of the head of a felled pollard elm a small 

 deserted nest of V. Crabro, which was commenced ou the 9th. It consisted of a foot- 

 stalk, to which were attached eighteen cells, some containing larvae about one quarter 

 grown. A basin-shaped covering, two inches and a half in diameter, was formed over 

 the cells. It appeared to have been deserted about a week. 



"On the 29th I took out a nesl of V, rufa, which was in a very forward state, 

 both males and young queens having been produced in it. The crown was studded 

 with eggs of a species of Volucella. 



"On the lllh of July I took out a rather small nest of V. rufa, in which I found 

 two females of Anthomyia incana in the act of depositing their eggs. 



"On the 14th I took out a small nest of V. rufa, built by the workers left behind 

 when the original nest to which they belonged was removed on the 22nd of June. 

 It measured but about an inch in diameter, and contained one small comb, in the 

 cells of which were found eggs, larvae of various sizes, and a few spuu-up larvae or 

 pupx. 



