Insects. 



6643 



after, destroyed much of the outer case, exposing two tiers of cells, 

 the upper one full of grubs. Unfortunately, I was unable to have 

 any more observations made on this nest, which soon after was 

 entirely destroyed. 



But to resume. The wasps were soon reconciled to their change 

 of quarters, and after the nest had been slung they established a 

 sentry. But they were still tired and frightened, for they made no 

 objection to the bottom of the nest being cut off' to gain a clearer 

 view of what was going on inside ; even the sentinel paid no atten- 

 tion to my operations, if I was careful only to work when her back 

 was turned. The lowest comb which was thus exposed consisted 

 only of rudimentary cells, in which no eggs had yet been laid. Ru- 

 dimentary as the cells were, still their tops were in close contact with 

 the outer case, which must have been cut away to allow the cell-walls 

 to be built up to their full height. Round the edges of this comb, 

 and much more on one side than on the other, the cells of the comb 

 above could be seen, filled with grubs, which the workers were busily 

 engaged in feeding. 



It did not appear that any distinct order was observed in feeding 

 the grubs, but none were neglected ; for not only did the little heads 

 which were greedily thrust out from the cells receive a supply, but 

 the nurses themselves put their heads down into all the cells to see if 

 any nourishment was wanted by the less clamorous embryos, and the 

 greater part of the morning was spent in running from cell to cell in 

 this occupation. For a day or two this seemed the sole business of 

 the swarm ; for though they made themselves at home at once in 

 Brighton, yet probably the novelty of the situation threw some diffi- 

 culties in the way of obtaining a sufficient supply of food for their 

 young, and so prevented them setting to work at once to repair 

 the nest. 



The food which was brought in was not intended exclusively for the 

 grubs. I often saw a wasp impart the fluid contents of her stomach 

 most amicably to her sister, directly, mouth to mouth. I could not, 

 however, make out how the solid food which was brought in was 

 divided, for it was carried up at once, out of sight, to the top of the 

 nest, where the wasps usually lived. 



The first duty of the day was to feed the grubs. This done, 

 they proceeded to close in the bottom of the nest. Day by day we 

 watched the gradual extension of a hood, shutting off* the comb from 

 observation, and closely applied over its surface, being apparently a 

 prolongation of the innermost sheet of the case. Some of the cells in 



