170 Insects. 



agree with Dr. Leach's insect. I compared tliem cai*efully, and found 

 the head in V. media, viewed in front, to be rounder, and the clypeus 

 more square, the abdomen also wanted the rufous spots on the second 

 segment. 



Sp. 6. Vespa BOREALis, 72€w species. 



Female. — Length 8 lines. Head black ; scape yellow in front, a 

 large crown- shaped spot rising from the base of the antennae ; the 

 clypeus with three minute black dots ; a streak close to the inner mar- 

 gin of the eyes, and another short one behind, yellow ; the lower por- 

 tion of the cheeks down to the mandibles clothed with silvery hairs ; 

 the mandibles yellow, their inner margin dark ferruginous. Thorax : 

 the tegulaj, a line running from them to the collar, a spot under the 



wings, and two spots on the scutellum, 

 yellow ; the legs yellow, the anterior and 

 intermediate tibiae have a black streak be- 

 hind, the apical joints of the tarsi ferru- 

 ginous. The abdomen has on the first 

 segment a triangular spot in the centre. 



Northern wasp ( Fesj9o fcoreaHs), female. and an obloUg Streak OU Cach sidc, black, 



a black band at the base of the remaining segments ; the second with 

 an united triangular spot in the centre, and a short black streak on 

 each side; a short black streak on each side of the remaining segments; 

 beneath, the first, and a large square patch in the centre of the base 

 of the second, black, a distinct black dot on each side on the other 

 segments. 



This insect resembles V. rufa in its general aspect, but the legs are 

 longer and stouter, particularly the posterior pair, and the underside 

 of the scape of the antennae is yellow. I found it in the fir-woods in 

 Yorkshire, where I have seen wasps' nests suspended from the trees ; 

 and I have no doubt this species builds there, as the Rev. F. W. 

 Hope has received it from Mr. Selby (from the north of Scotland), 

 who gives that account of its habits. 



I possess a neuter wasp which I took at the same time and place as 

 the females, but have no other evidence of their being the same species. 

 It might prove to be an extreme variety of V. britannica, but it has 

 four spots on the scutellum, and a triangular spot at the base of the 

 second segment, instead of the square patch. Mr. Westwood also re- 

 ceived two neuters from J. Hogg, Esq., one of which he presented to 

 me, and it corresponds exactly with mine. I shall describe it, leaving 

 it for future investigation to prove my supposition correct or otherwise. 



