FROM THE NORTH-WEST PROVINCES OF INDIA. 169 
size of the insect, be very finely worked; and the food stored consists of very minute 
spiders. I have reason to believe that it sometimes builds its cells on hanging straws 
under shelter; but the example figured was found in my veranda, built on the walls or 
pillars, and attached to the plaster. 
Fam. VESPIDA. 
IcARIA VARIEGATA, Smith. (Plate XX. figs. 8, 8a, & 9.) 
This pretty little insect lives in small communities, and builds an elegant nest of 
paper prepared by itself, which is very tough, and attached to leaves, stalks, &c. by 
thin but strong pedicles. It frequents flowers, and appears to feed on pollen. The 
posterior segments of the body are very retractile, causing the abdomen to assume 
a curious truncated appearance. In the example figured on a stalk, the cell-mouths 
are all upwards, which is strange, as the young grubs, the mouths of whose cells 
are open to the weather, must need some protection. The same was in a great 
measure the case with the cells on the Mango leaf. The cells are beautifully regular, 
being perfect hexagons; and the strength with which the foot-stalk is fastened is sur- 
prising. There appears to be used for this portion of the work some kind of gum, with 
which they cover their plaster; and this much resembles varnish in appearance. It 
is probably derived from the Babool or Mango-tree, both of which abounded near 
Benares, where these nests were found. On one occasion I found a group of these 
little series of cells hanging in a covered tomb; they were attached to a stone slab, 
and all, of course, face downwards. Unfortunately they were old nests and quite empty. 
They consisted of a series of combs; and the number of cells in each averaged sixteen 
only. In this case shelter had evidently been sought, and in the two cases formerly 
noted the insects were in a measure shielded from the direct influence of the rain by 
the thickness of the foliage of the Mango-tree above them; for the habit of this Icaria 
is, as a rule, to build under shelter. 
In their disposition like the rest of the Vespide, they fly with one accord to attack 
the intruder—although their sting was not very sharp, and nearly resembled the prick 
of a fine pin, and was in a great measure deficient in the burning feeling experienced 
when stung by their brethren the Polistide. 
ICARIA FERRUGINEA, Fabr. 
This insect in its habits resembles I. variegata. It feeds its larvee with ejected juices ; 
hence one never finds any thing but the egg slightly attached to the bottom of the cell, 
or the more matured grub, which spins itself a silken cocoon over its cell within which 
to change to a perfect insect. It associates in very large parties, and is extremely 
vicious when disturbed, and flies at the party interfering with it, hardly ever failing to 
VOL. VII.—PaRT 11. April, 1870. 2B 
