86 P.Li T E DU. 



The Hornet lives in focieties, court inching its neit in the trunks of 

 hollow trees, or among timber, wood-lofts, and other fimilar iituations : 

 the neft is capacious, being adapted tor the reception of a numerous 

 family, though fmaller than that of the common wafp, and containing 

 a lei's coniiderable number of cells : its texture refembles that of 

 parchment, or ftrong paper. 



In its manners of life the Hornet refembles the wafp, being, like 

 that infect, fierce, voracious, and fubfifting on frem animal fubftances, 

 on fruits, and the nectar of flowers ; and in particular committing vaft 

 havoc among the lower tribes of infects. Its animohty towards the 

 bee is well known : it often enters the hive of thefe induftrious crea- 

 tures, and plunders them oi' their honey with impunity. 



Both fexes of this fpecies are (hewn in the lower part of the plate, 

 the fpecimens felected for which purpofe rather exceed the ufual mag- 

 nitude. The figure in the upper part of the plate is the representation 

 of a Imall variety of the lame ipecies. 



PLATE 



