of Vespa vulgaris and V. Germanica. clxxv 



The male of V. vulgaris, as I observed above, varies greatly in the 

 markings of the abdomen, that of V. Germanica seldom, if ever : in 

 several particulars it differs from V. vulgaris. 



In the workers, the crown-shaped spot on the face, above the cly- 

 peus, is of a different shape, and it is more distantly separated from 

 the clypeus. 



A few words will show that, although I felt satisfied, eight years ago, 

 that I was justified in the conclusions which I then came to, the dif- 

 ficulties which attach to the discrimination of these species I had not 

 then surmounted; and I have since learned that nothing but an ex- 

 amination of entire broods and the detection of permanent characters 

 are safe guides. I had at that time in my possession several pairs of 

 wasps taken in coitu, the females of V. vulgaris with var. 5 of the male, 

 which I at that time considered identical with the male of V. Germa- 

 nica ; then again, I possessed true males of V. Germanica, taken con- 

 nected with the true female, but I had not discovered the specific dif- 

 ferences which I now lay down. I had also in winter found females 

 of both species in the same nest: this I do not now consider evidence 

 of much moment, as wasps, when seeking winter quarters, may be ex- 

 pected, without any improbability, to avail themselves of the same 

 hybernaculum. The conclusions at which I have now arrived are the 

 results of much observation. I have examined not fewer than from 

 eight to nine thousand wasps, about one third of which I have either 

 extracted from the cells, or they have been developed whilst the brood- 

 combs were in my possession. Still, it will require some attention 

 and careful comparison before the workers and the males of the two 

 species can be readily separated, particularly the latter sex, when var. 

 5 of V. vulgaris closely represents the male of V. Germanica. A little 

 practice will however overcome this difficulty. Notwithstanding all 

 the care I have taken — all the pains I have bestowed upon the inqui- 

 ry — I do not flatter myself that all difficulties are cleared away. I 

 know too well that in many instances local varieties are met with, dif- 

 fering considerably from what may be regarded as the typical repre- 

 sentatives of the species ; and it is quite possible that a careful ana- 

 tomical investigation might result in the discovery of more permanent 

 characters whereby to distinguish the species than those which I have 

 laid down ; but I have endeavoured to point out such as can, certainly 

 with much advantage, be used by every one. Those resulting from 

 anatomical research would be, in all probability, too recondite to ad- 

 mit of general application. The males, however, can be distinguished 



