3702 Insects. 



the perfectly developed insects in making their exit from the cells, 

 this being an office in which I have frequently seen them engaged. 

 After the development of the perfect wasp, it remains some days in 

 the nest before it ventures abroad ; indeed, on its first coming forth it 

 has not its proper colouring, many of the workers of Vespa rufa on 

 their first issue having scarcely a trace of their future markings upon 

 the abdomen. 



In everything connected with the economy of insects there is a wise 

 purpose : and could we on all occasions become acquainted with their 

 economy, many things at present unaccountable would prove addi- 

 tional evidences of the power, wisdom, and goodness of the Creator. 

 I have previously stated that the caps are much thicker than the lin- 

 ing of the cells, or rather shrouds of the larvae, indeed the caps are of 

 so tough a consistency, that a considerable pressure may be used with- 

 out injury to them. The purpose of this is at once obvious on watch- 

 ing the occupations of wasps. It will be seen that the development 

 of the inhabitants of the cells contained in one comb must of necessity 

 take place in successive degrees ; consequently there will be at all 

 times a number of larvae requiring food in different parts of the same 

 comb, so that a constant traversing over the combs takes place ; in- 

 deed, this is so unceasing, that were not the caps of the cells of a firm 

 consistency, the delicate pupae must perish from the injuries to which 

 they would be subjected from the working wasps. 



1 did not on any occasion observe the male wasps feeding the young 

 brood, but I have seen them carry out the cuttings from the cell-caps 

 and other refuse. The females are fed by the workers, the latter dis- 

 gorge the honey &c. which they collect, and it is then devoured by 

 the females. I observed several females in the act of depositing 

 eggs, and feel assured that some of those which first arrive at maturi- 

 ty, are parents of the great autumnal brood. 



It has been observed that wasps are subject to the attacks of para- 

 sites; Ripiphorus paradoxus, various Diptera, and some species of 

 Ichneumonidae being amongst the number. 



From the nest of Vespa rufa I obtained several specimens of 

 Chrysis ignita, and .some of an Ichneumon, belonging to the genus 

 Bassus. From one of V. vulgaris a number of Volucella bombylans 

 made their appearance. I obtained no parasite from the nest of 

 Vespa Norwegica; but I would observe, in concluding my obser- 

 vations, that the sexes of this species do not appear to be subject to 

 much variation in colour or markings, the female only varies in having 

 occasionally a minute yellow spot on each side of the scutellum ; the 



