FEOM THE NOETH-WEST PEOVINCES OF INDIA. 173 



{Ficus indica), and, as they are in general carnivorous, it must have been for some such 

 purpose. At the same time there appears to be some woody or, at least, vegetable fibre 

 mixed with the earth. 



The cells are regular hexagons, and built from an hexagonal ground-plan — a fact 

 which confirms Mr. Smith's observations to the same efiect ; and the whole structure 

 often assumes a large size. One found by me was 10" X 9" X 9^^', in the centre of a wall 

 composed of sun-burnt bricks, in a hollow which had originally been excavated by 

 Termites and afterwards enlarged by the hornets, as they are popularly called. 



I have often seen these insects pounce upon a sitting fly, just as a hawk would do on 

 a small bird, and they are also very fond of ripe fruit, such as peaches, grapes, and 

 apples. The Vespa velutina also indulges in these luxuries, and is especially fond of 

 the hill-apricot. 



The stings of four or five of these insects are said to be sufficiently powerful to kill a 

 child ; but, as in all such cases, much must depend on the circumstances. 



The outside of th^ nest is, as is usual with wasps, covered with a coating of loose 

 paper. 



It is highly dangerous to disturb a colony of these insects ; and as they work in gangs 

 at night, it is somewhat hazardous even then to take their nests. As, however, they 

 greatly affect outhouses, it is most necessary to destroy them, as horses have been said 

 to have been stung to death by them; but for this I cannot vouch. 



I will here quote in ewtenso from my note-book the notes which refer to Indian 

 Hornets^ by which terms both F. cincta and F. orientalis are designated, dated : — 



"August 15, 1863. — These insects are very abundant at Benares, in India, but not 

 generally spiteful. One may see hundreds of them flying round the sweetmeat stalls, 

 like wasps in the fruit-shops in England ; and the vendor drives them away with a 

 whisk, a piece of palm-leaf, or a cloth, and is very rarely stung. If one, however, be in- 

 cautiously touched, the sting is very suddenly given and very sharp ; its pain is intense, 

 and it induces considerable inflammation. They make their nests in the mud walls ; 

 and the form of these is just like that of the English Hornet. 



" Yesterday I was drying some sugar in the sun ; and this attracted a large number 

 of them. My man killed many, throwing down their bodies on the spot, when the 

 ants appeared to carry off the carcasses ; but not only did the ants so employ themselves, 

 for the hornets alighted also and carried off their dead brethren as food ! The ants 

 {(Ecophylla sntaragdina) appear to be naturally very destructive to these insects. These 

 ants live both in the ground and in nests made of leaves of trees drawn together. 



" I have seen the hornets trying to carry off their tiny tormentors. Again and again 

 have they darted at them ; but it invariably ended either in the hornet quietly sitting 

 down amongst his enemies to be bitten or stung to death and then carried off in 

 triumph to be eaten by them, or in his falling to the ground with three or four ants 

 hanging on, when his fate was equally certain. 



