1 94 O R D E R V. Vefpa. 



The abdomen attached to the thorax by a 

 fhort pedicle. 



Three (lemmata. 



The body fmooth, without any hairs upon it. 



From the above it will appear, that Linnaeus 

 and Geoffroy differ very elTentially with regard 

 to one character afllgned by the latter to the 

 Wafp, viz. that of its having a membranaceous 

 tongue, the exiftence of which Linn^us denies, 

 but which, according to the other, is placed in 

 the mouth between the jaws, bent inwards under 

 the bread, and compofed of feveral pieces or 

 membranaceous filaments, exactly like that of 

 the Bee ; this difference, in a matter to all ap- 

 pearance fo eafy to be decided, is furprifing: 

 No author, befides Geoffroy, that I am acquaint- 

 ed with, pretends that the Wafp has a tongue, 

 nor could I ever perceive it, though 1 have pur- 

 pofely examined a great number of European 

 Wafps, and particularly fuch Jpecies as are de- 

 fcribed by that author, and which were taken in 

 France ; all, indeed, have a kind of broad, mem- 

 branaceous fkin under the jaws, at the bafe, or 

 upon the fides of which, the palpi are feated ; 

 this membrane does not, however, in the leaft 

 rcfemble a tongue, nor does it feem calculated to 



fervc 



