462 HOMES WITHOUT HANDS. 



of its colour. In general shape the insect resembles other 

 species of its genus, but is rather larger than the generality oi 

 its kin, and is conspicuous for its deep black colour. 



The method of nidification which this species adopts is very 

 peculiar. The cells are formed with beautiful regularity, but 

 are arranged in a very curious fashion. They are placed with 

 their mouths downwards, as is frequently the custom with the 

 cells of hymenoptera, but are not quite perpendicular, inclining 

 alternately to either side. Each cell is set rather lower than its 

 predecessor, so that the general effect is very peculiar, and 

 gives to the cell-group a character which renders it at once 

 recognisable. See page 581. 



The second nest which is represented in the same illustration 

 is scarcely so striking in appearance as the preceding, but is 

 equally interesting, and to many minds more so, because the 

 architect is at present unknown, and there is some little mj'stery 

 about the edifice. That it is the work of a Polistes is evident 

 enough from the character of the cells, but it is not made by 

 any of the numejrous species whose nests are already in European 

 collections. 



The colour of the combs is a rather sombre brown, so that at 

 a little distance the whole group would easily escape notice, 

 especially if it were buried in the depths of the forest, as is the 

 case with many similar nests. The cells are about the same 

 size as those of the curious clay nest which has already been 

 described, but they are undefended by any covering, and exposed 

 to the weather. 



It has been suggested by some observers that the combs 

 might have been originally protected by an outer case, and that 

 the case itself has been lost. The formation of the branch, how- 

 ever, from which the combs are hung, serves to militate against 

 any such theory, as the twigs project so far that they must 

 have been enveloped by the covering if it ever existed, while 

 upon them there is no trace of any such material as that of 

 which the nest is made. The inference is, therefore, that they 

 wore never intended to be protected by a cover, but that they 

 were intentionally exposed to the air, as is the case with the 

 habitations of Polistes and several allied insects, whose homes 

 will shortly be described. 



