28 SOCIAL HABITATIONS. 
bears a singular resemblance to the nest of the fairy martin, 
though its materials are entirely different. The nest is 
flask-shaped,and its base isfastened to a leaf, which it almost 
covers. The body of the nest is oval, and the entrance, 
which is small, is placed at the end of a well-marked neck. 
The shell of the nest is extremely thin, not in the least like 
the loose, papery structure of an ordinary wasp-nest, nor the 
pasteboard-like material which defends the nest of the 
Chartergus. It is rather fragile, and in thickness is almost 
double that of the paper on which this account is printed. 
The name of the species which builds this curious nest is 
Polybia sedula, and the specimen was brought from Brazil. 
For many reasons the HivE BEE has been reckoned 
among the Social Insects, 
The Bee has always been one of the most interesting in- 
sects to mankind, on account of the direct benefit which it 
confers upon the human race. There are many other insects 
which are in reality quite as useful to us, and indeed are 
indispensable, but which we neglect because we are ignorant 
of their labours. The Bee, however, furnishes two powerful 
and tangible arguments in its favonr—namely, honey and 
wax—and is sure, therefore, to enlist our sympathies in 
its behalf. 
Independently, however, of these claims to our notice, 
if the Bee never made an ounce of honey—if the wax 
were as useless to us as wasp-comb—if the insect were 
a mere stinging creature, with a tetchy temper, it would 
still deserve our admiration, on account of the wonderful 
manner in which it constructs its social home, and the 
method by which that home is regulated. 
The accompanying illustration shows the lower part of 
the interior of a hive, which is supposed to be viewed 
through a plate of glass set in the back. When the hive 
