THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. 



215 



latter exhibit cavities of marvellous regularity, the M^asp of 

 vphich we speak shines in the general arrangement of her 



129. Piiper-making AVasps — Vcsjia nklahms (Fabiichis). 



building. It is composed of regular stages placed one 

 above another in a species of circular tower. Some of 

 these houses possess as many as fifteen to twenty stages, 

 which all communicate Avith each other by means of a hole 



1'» 





130. Neats of the Paper-making Wasp. 



placed in the centre of each. The cavities Avhich shelter 

 the architects are placed on the ceiling of each compart- 

 ment. The entire building of this fly, which ordinarily 

 hangs to a tree, is composed of a kind of brown paste 

 exactly like cardboard, and from this comes the name by 

 which it is known. But we are totally ignorant of the 

 source from which the insect, an inhabitant of Cayenne, 

 draws its materials. 



