410 The Hornet. 



composed of the bases of the cells, and form nearly a level floor, on which the 

 insects can pass and repass. The spaces between the first-formed, or workers', 

 combs in the hornet's nest are about half an inch high, in those of the queen 

 1 in. ; but the spaces in both are reduced by the cocoons of the insects, 

 especially that of the queen, which protrudes beyond the rest. Though 

 hornets' cells are larger than those of wasps, still they are not so numerous, 

 and of course their progeny is less, except the queens and drones, which are 

 far greater, and are reared last in the colony : they amount to several hun- 

 dreds ; indeed, the whole cells in autumn are occupied by them. The drones 

 are principally in the workers* cells, but they are found also in those of the 

 queen : those bred in the latter appear to be of a larger size. It is not so 

 with the wasps ; among them the drones and queens are bred together in 

 larger cells in the last-formed combs, and working wasps are reared until the 

 colony disperse. 



I have made these remarks from a hornet's nest taken from a hollow tree 

 on the 25th of Sept. At that time the wasps were getting weak, and careless 

 about their nests, while the hornets were in full vigour. The nest contained 

 nine divisions of combs, full of eggs and brood ; even the last comb, or rather 

 the embryo of one, being only five cells, just begun, contained eggs a little 

 larger than wasps' ; but, like theirs, deposited on one side, a little from the 

 bottom of their cells. This affords room for the excrements from the grubs, 

 which was the black substance found in the empty cells when the colony was 

 upset. It contained more drones and queens than workers ; several hundreds 

 more came forth. During a month nine kept the nest in a hothouse ; but, 

 strange to say, not one worker, their cells being full of brood drones, as 

 already noticed. I put one worker into the nest : though wingless, he foraged 

 about, and, on the least alarm, he was always the first to appear. When 

 pressed with hunger, he came with the rest and ate from my hand. I cannot 

 say whether the drones or young queens take any part in the colony ; the 

 former quit in search of food ; they are larger than the workers, are known 

 from them by their long dark feelers or horns, and by having no sting. The 

 queens are larger ; I never saw them abroad in search of food ; probably they 

 are fed by the workers, and before becoming torpid eat the dying larvae. It may 

 be worthy of remark, that, though there were many males and females in the 

 nest alluded to, I could not discern them meeting to insure a future increase ; 

 as the drones and workers perish at the end of the season, it must take place 

 before then. The queens , like those of the wasp, hide themselves during 

 winter amongst dry moss, &c., in a torpid state, until the warmth of spring 

 calls them forth to begin fresh colonies. 



Since the above was written, Dr. Neill, who is well known as a naturalist 

 as well as a horticulturist, sent me word that he has never met with the 

 Tespa Crabro in Scotland. I cannot do better than give his own words on 

 this subject : — " I sent the hornets to the Rev. J. Duncan, in whose rich 

 collection they will have a place. He writes me thus : ' I have no hesitation 

 in saying that you may assure your correspondent that the hornet does not 

 occur in Scotland. I have stated this as my belief in a paper on the Wasp, 

 in the 12th volume of the Quarterly Journal of Agriculture. I never saw a 

 hornet in this country, nor ever heard of one occurring. It extends much 

 farther north on the Continent ; but we cannot infer from that that it should 

 likewise be found here. It is so conspicuous and formidable an insect, that, 

 had it existed here, it is not likely it would have been overlooked.' From 

 such evidences, especially the Rev. J. Duncan's, who may be styled the Scot- 

 tish Kirby, we may conclude there are no hornets in Scotland ; and it is very 

 natural for us to ask why. Want of proper food cannot be the cause, for 

 wasps find nourishment there. The wet and cold variable springs in Scotland 

 may have something to do with it, by arousing the insects at an improper 

 time ; but not all, for the hornet can endure, perhaps', more cold than the wasp, 

 they are often abroad both night and day after the wasps disappear. I may 

 add, that I once exposed hornets abroad during a cold night ; in the morning 



