PEOM THE NOETH-WEST PEOVINCES OE INDIA. 169 



size of the insect, be very finely worked ; and the food stored consists of very minute 

 spiders. I have reason to believe that it sometimes builds its cells on hanging straws 

 under shelter ; but the example figured was found in my veranda, built on the walls or 

 pillars, and attached to the plaster. 



Fam. VESPID^. 



ICARU VARIEGATA, Smith. (Plate XX. figs. 8, 8«, & 9.) 

 This pretty little insect lives in small communities, and builds an elegant nest of 

 paper prepared by itself, which is very tough, and attached to leaves, stalks, &c. by 

 thin but strong pedicles. It frequents flowers, and appears to feed on pollen. The 

 posterior segments of the body are very retractile, causing the abdomen to assume 

 a curious truncated appearance. In the example figured on a stalk, the cell-mouths 

 are all upwards, which is strange, as the young grubs, the mouths of whose cells 

 are open to the weather, must need some protection. The same was in a great 

 measure the case with the cells on the Mango leaf. The cells are beautifully regular, 

 being perfect hexagons ; and the strength with which the foot-stalk is fastened is sur- 

 prising. There appears to be used for this portion of the work some kind of gum, with 

 which they cover their plaster ; and this much resembles varnish in appearance. It 

 is probably derived from the Babool or Mango-tree, both of which abounded near 

 Benares, where these nests were found. On one occasion I found a group of these 

 little series of cells hanging in a covered tomb ; they were attached to a stone slab, 

 and all, of course, face downwards. Unfortunately they were old nests and quite empty. 

 They consisted of a series of combs ; and the number of cells in each averaged sixteen 

 only. In this case shelter had evidently been sought, and in the two cases formerly 

 noted the insects were in a measure shielded from the direct influence of the rain by 

 the thickness of the foliage of the Mango-tree above them ; for the habit of this Icaria 

 is, as a rule, to build under shelter. 



In their disposition like the rest of the Vespidse, they fly with one accord to attack 

 the intruder — although their sting was not very sharp, and nearly resembled the prick 

 of a fine pin, and was in a great measure deficient in the burning feeling experienced 

 when stung by their brethren the PoUstidce, 



ICAEIA FERRUGINEA, Fabr. / 



This insect in its habits resembles /. variegata. It feeds its larv^ with ejected juices; 

 hence one never finds any thing but the egg slightly attached to the bottom of the cell, 

 or the more matured grub, which spins itself a silken cocoon over its cell within which 

 to change to a perfect insect. It associates in very large parties, and is extremely 

 vicious when disturbed, and flies at the party interfering with it, hardly ever failing to 



VOL. VII. — PART HI. April, 1870. 2 b 



