Marvels of the Universe 



405 





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Ground Wasps, but in tropical 

 America and Central Africa 

 ver\- large examples are found ; 

 sometimes they attain three 

 and four feet in height. 

 Amongst the illustrations is 

 shown an example of a nest 

 from Brazil, which is popularly 

 known as the Dutchman's 

 Pipe, its shape somewhat re- 

 sembhng a large pipe-bowl 

 with a small mouth, while the 

 portion of the branch on 

 which it weis suspended serv- 

 ing as the stem, completes the 

 resemblance. 



The builders of these nests 

 are known as Pasteboard 

 Wasps, as the walls of their 

 nests are thick and tough, like 

 strong cardboard. In addi- 

 tion, they have a beautifully 

 polished surface, which makes 

 them impenetrable by rain 

 and mist. The resemblance 

 to cardboard is so good that 

 it would almost deceive a 

 paper manufacturer, and to 

 others it certainly appears as 

 an artificial production. 



These nests are not infre- 

 quently placed on orange-trees, 

 and their structure is rather 

 curious from the fact that a 

 central orifice passes through 

 all the combs, commencing at 

 the entrance. natural size.i 



Having regard for the facts we have sketched in this and an earlier article, we may claim that 

 in its social economy the Wasp is certainly as marvellous as the Bee. 



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Phofobi/} [J.J. U'nnL /■'./•;.N. 



THE DEVELOPMENT OF A WASP. 



In this photo the lower cells of the comb contain eggs and young grubs; above the 

 ells are capped with a papery material elaborated by the full-grown grubs before 



the 



becoming chrysalids. In several the cap has not yet been made, and the grub is seen 

 filling the cell. On the left a Wasp has just emerged from the chrysalis. (.Twice the 



A PLESIOSAUR 



BY SIR H.-\RRY JOHNSTON, G.C.M.G. 



From the earliest reptiles, in the latter part of the Primary Epoch, were evolved not only the Fish- 

 lizards or Ichthyosaurs (which adopted a wholly aquatic life and had an appearance something 

 like whales or porpoises), but also a remarkable order known as Sauropterygia, or Saurians with 

 paddles. These, perhaps, had some affinity with the ancestors of the tortoises and turtles, though 

 the resemblance in structure may be mainly due to a parallel line of development. The Sauro- 

 pterygia are generally summed up for the unscientific public by one name — Plesiosaur. [This really 



