TREE WASPSs 257 



Its origin is sufficiently remarkable. On the 18th of July, 

 1857, this nest was found at Cokethorpe Park, Oxfordshire, being 

 then of moderate dimensions, and measuring about five inches 

 in diameter. It was taken from the ground, and hung near the 

 window of a dwelling-house upon the ground floor, so as to give 

 the inmates facility for procuring food. There was no danger in 

 the experiment, for, as has been mentioned on page 146, the 

 wasp is really a good-natured insect, unless irritated, and can be 

 watched as safely as the hive bee. 



In order to induce the labourers to work with more assiduity, 

 the wasps were supplied with food in the shape of sugar and 

 beer, of which mixture they consumed a large amount, their 

 daily allowance being a pound of sugar to a pint of beer, and 

 the aggregate weight being two pounds. Under such favourable 

 auspices they built their nest at a wonderful rate, when they 

 were suddenly reinforced after a singular manner. It so hap- 

 pened that on the first floor of the hquse two other wasps' nests 

 had been placed. The workers of these nests-were not fed like 

 their kinsmen below, and in consequence, about the end of 

 August they deserted their own house, and united with the more 

 favoured wasps on the ground floor. The three colonies having 

 thus joined their forces, the nest grew with marvellous rapidity, 

 and at last attained the gigantic size which has already been 

 mentioned. 



In shape it is very in-egular, as though the turnip to which it 

 was compared had been made of a soft yielding substance, and 

 had been thrown down and roughly handled. The entrance is 

 close to the bottom of the nest, and a little on one side, and just 

 by the opening the nest is flattened, and seems as if it had been 

 pinched by some giant finger and thumb. For this singular 

 structure we are indebted to Mr. S. Stone of Brighthampton. 



There are also certain British wasps which always make 

 pensile nests, though none of them are so complicated or so 

 finely constructed as those of the pasteboard wasps of hotter 

 climates. 



These are popularly called Tree Wasps, and the best known 

 among these pensile wasps is the insect which is sometimes 

 known as Vcspa Britannica, but which is now named Vespa 

 Xnnvegica, and may therefore be called the Norwegian Wasp. 



