172 MESSES. C. HOENE AKD E. SMITH ON HYMENOPTEEA 



PoLiSTES STIGMA, Fabr. 



This insect frequents sheltered places, such as the verandas of houses, and is 

 extremely common. The description of the comb and the construction of its dwelling, 

 as given under P. h^^^us, appUes also to P. stigma. It does not, however, attack so 

 viciously as some others, and stings only when much interfered with. Its cells are 

 beautifiiUy regular hexagons, and, although very Ught, are of the strongest fabric, being 

 of a paper made bv the insect. In its various stages it bears a great resemblance to 

 P. hebr(eus. August, September, and October are its favourite months for working, 

 although it may be seen busily employed at most times during the rains. 



Its food consists of small insects, which it eats and prepares for its young. 



The cells of the females are longer than those of the workers and males, and their 

 silken covers project much above the ordinary surface of the comb. 



They are much troubled with Stylops; and I have occasionally bred from their combs 

 specimens of small moths, chiefly of the Tineidse, several species of which appear to be 

 universal feeders. 



Vespa velutixa, St. Farg. 



This very handsome wasp builds a huge nest, hanging on the boughs of trees, mostly 

 at a great height from the ground. Of its nest there are two handsome specimens in 

 the nest-room of the British Museum. The communities are verj' numerous, and it is 

 most dangerous to meddle with their nests, A bullet incautiously put through one 

 brings down a swarm of tiie inhabitants, whose stings are most venomous and often 

 dangerous to life. They will follow a party for miles through the densest jungle, and 

 are said often to kill animals and, even, men- 



A nest I measured exceeded 4 feet in length, and, when the outer covering was broken 

 away, showed range upon range of cells ; but the extreme difficulty of bringing it to 

 England compelled me to abandon it. 



They frequent flowers and carry off insects of all kinds wherewith to feed their young ; 

 and a wall covered with roses at a house in the Himalehs, 6500 feet above the sea, was 

 a very favourite resort. They then flew off, often many miles, to their nests. 



Appended (p. 190) is a description by Mr. Smith of an allied species (F. vivas), appa- 

 rentiy new, the habite of which are the same as those of F. velutina. 



Vespa orikxtaus, linn. 

 Yespa cixcta, Fabr. 

 The same notes will apply to both these species, which, I believe, to be already well 

 known. They build their nests of prepared earth, strongly impregnated with some 

 viscid substance, probably derived from the gums of trees. 



In confirmation of the above, I may remark that I have often seen them sitting appa- 

 rentiy eating the gum of the Acacia (catechu) and also the flowing juice of the Peepul 



