HYMENOPTERA. 147 
of their clypeus is widely truncated, and has a tooth on each side. 
The abdomen is always ovoidal or conical. They comprise the 
genus Vespa proper of Latreille. 
Vespa, Lat.(1) 
V. crabo, L.; Guépe frelon, Reaum., Insect., VI, xviii. Length 
one inch; head fulvous, with a yellow front; thorax black, spot 
ted with fulvous; rings of the abdomen blackish brown, marked ~ 
with a yellow band dotted with two or three black points on its 
posterior margin. 
It builds its nest in sheltered localities, such as garrets, barns, 
holes in walls and hollow trees. The nest is rounded, formed 
of a coarse material, and of the colour of a dead leaf. The 
combs, of which there are usually but few, are connected with 
each other by pillars or columns, the middle one much the 
thickest. The envelope is usually thick and friable. This 
species devours other Insects, particularly Bees, and robs the 
latter of their honey. 
V. vulgaris; G. commune, Reaum., Ibid., XIV, 1, 7. About 
eight lines.in length; black; front of the head yellow, with a 
black point in the middle; several yellow spots on the thorax, 
and four on the scutellum; a yellow band with three black spots 
on the posterior margin of the rings of the abdomen. 
It constructs in the earth a nest analogous to that of the cra- 
bo, but composed of a finer substance, and with more numerous 
combs. The columns which support them are equal. Its en- 
velope consists of several lamin, arranged in bands, which 
overlap each other’s edges. 
V. media, Lat., intermediate as to size between the two pre- 
ceding ones, constructs a similar nest, but attaches it to the 
branches of trees. 
_ FV. holsatica, Fab. This species constructs a very singularly 
formed nest. It is almost globular, open at top, and inclosed 
inferiorly in a kind of saucer. It is sometimes observed in barns, 
or attached to the timbers in garrets, &c., and even in hives(2). 
(1) Lat., Gen. Crust. et Insect., IV, p. 142. 
(2) Lat., Ann. du Mus. d’Hist. Nat. 
