510 HABITATIONS OF INSECTS. 



of which is longer than the preceding. The comb com- 

 prises about thirty hexagonal cells circularly arranged, 

 those of the circumference being lower and smaller 2 . 



A vespiary somewhat similar to the above, but of a 

 depressed globular figure, and composed of more nu- 

 merous envelopes, so as to assume a considerable re- 

 semblance to a half-expanded Provence rose, is figured 

 by Reaumur b : and for a very beautiful specimen ap- 

 parently of the same kind (except that it contains but 

 one stage of cells), which was found in the garden at 

 East-Dale, I am indebted to the kindness of Henry 

 Thompson, esq. of Hull. 



Another species [Vespa Parietum c !) attaches its small 

 group of about twenty inverted crucible-like cells to a 

 piece of wood without any covering d . 



But all these yield in point of singularity of structure 

 to the habitation of Polistes nidulans (Vespa chartaria, 

 Oliv.), a native of Cayenne, which constructs its nest of 

 a beautifully polished white and solid paste-board, im- 

 penetrable by the weather. These are in shape some- 

 what like a bell, often a foot and a half long, and fixed 

 by their upper end to the branch of a tree from which 

 they are securely suspended. Their interior is com- 

 posed of numerous concave horizontal combs, with the 

 openings of the cells turned downwards, fastened to the 

 sides without any pillars, and having a hole through 

 each to admit of access to the uppermost e . 



a Annates du Museum cVHist. Nat. i. 289. 



b vi. t. 1 9. f. i. 2. c Ro S el Vesp. t. 7. £ &. 



d Rosel II. viii. 30. « Reaum. vi. 224 



