HYMENOPTEBA. 49 



Close by these are two nests built by a species of Isclinog aster. 



They were found attached to roots on an overhanging bank in 



Borneo by the late Mr. J. Whitehead (445). The form of the 



entrance with its open-work at the back should be noticed (fig. 50). 



Other somewhat similar nests from Ceylon, formed by another 



Table- 

 species, will be found in Table-Case 52 (fig. 51). case 52 _ 



Some Social "Wasps build their nests without covering, others 

 are enclosed. Among those built without cover are those of 

 Polistes and Icaria. 



In the wall-case are examples of the flat nests built in trees by 

 species of Polistes (341-355). It will be observed that these are 

 suspended by a stalk from the centre of the nest (fig. 52). The 

 species of Icaria build somewhat similar nests, but instead of making 

 them circular they increase the size of the nest by adding cells at 

 one end, the result being a long narrow nest. One from Singapore 

 (359, fig. 53) about a foot long is in the wall-case, and some 

 smaller ones will be found in Table-Case 52. 



This case contains nests formed by various species of Vespa (the Wall- 

 common wasps and hornets). The nests built by some of the case 13, 

 Indian species attain great size ; one measuring thirty-two inches in Tabl< ;~ 

 length is suspended in the middle of the case. 



The English Hornet, Vespa cralro, builds its nest chiefly of 

 rotten wood, sometimes in hollow trees (449, 535), frequently in roofs 

 of outhouses (489, 493). Those in hollows are generally without 

 covering, but suspended nests have a thick outer case. 



The other species of the genus Vespa are called Wasps, of which 

 there are six British species. 



The nest of Vespa vulgaris is somewhat similar to that of the 

 Hornet, but is composed of much finer material. The patches on 

 the cover are smaller, with concentric curves or wavy lines of 

 different shades of buff and brown (of a lighter colour than in the 

 Hornet's nest), giving the nest a very pretty appearance. This wasp 

 prefers to build underground, but the nests are found not infrequently 

 in roofs of outhouses (511, 515). A nest of this species was recently 

 found in a hat which was hanging in an outhouse at Tring, and 

 was presented to the Museum by the Hon. Walter Bothschild (507). 



The nest of Vespa germanica, another common species, is 

 generally underground. It is formed of vegetable fibre and is of a 

 grey colour (465). 



Vespa norivegica is a tree wasp. The nest is of a grey colour, 

 with whitish marks and lines, built of vegetable fibre. The outer 



. E 



