15 
Mr. Knapp, in his very entertaining work, the 
Journal of a Naturalist, (p. 333, 2d edit.) mentions 
that he had seen the nest of another rare British 
species of wasp, which he calls Vespa Campanaria. 
It is fortunately figured in his work, and I venture 
to give the same explanation of it as of the others. 
Indeed, on comparing a small nest of the Vespa Bri- 
tannica with his engraving, the similarity is such, 
that a doubt can hardly exist upon the subject". 
It seems that Mr. Knapp considers the Vespa Cam- 
panaria here spoken of, to be a distinct species from 
the Vespa Holsatica. Shaw, in the Naturalist’s Miscel- 
lany°, gives a figure of the nest of the “ Campanular 
“‘ wasp,” to which he also applies the specific name 
Vespa Holsatica of Latreille. His engraving repre- 
sents the nest in a somewhat more forward state than 
that of Mr. Knapp, and his figure of the wasp itself 
agrees in every respect with the Vespa Britannica. 
The account he gives of its habits is very vague, but 
he had evidently never seen the nest of a tree wasp 
in its mature state, as he goes on to say, “ There is 
“an exotic species of wasp, a native of America, 
“ which forms a nest on a plan exactly similar to 
“our present species, but differing in being much 
“ larger, and having the concentric globes far more 
“ numerous, viz. from ten to twelve or more. These 
“« American wasps’ nests are commonly suspended 
“ from, or rather affixed to, the small branches of 
“ trees, as firs,” &c. Shaw was evidently not aware 
Several nests of the Vespa Britannica, in various stages, may 
be seen at the Ashmolean Museum, and will convey a better 
idea of the changes they undergo, and of their similarity to the 
engravings referred to, than any description. 
© Vol. xv. plate 603. 
