THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER. 
69 
unknown to the British Fauna: — Ypso- 
lophus ustulellus, Harpella major ella (of 
habits similar to our Geoffrella), CEco- 
phora procerella (which has occurred at 
rest on alder leaves), Gelechia segelella, 
Acrolepia assectdla (the leek and onion- 
feeding species), and A. cariosella. It 
was also with no little interest that I 
heard from M. Fologue he had once met 
with a swarm of OchsenheimeriaVacculella 
on the window of a house. Hitherto the 
species had only occurred singly in such 
situations, so that the fact of a whole 
colony having been found in-doors is very 
interesting. The study of the smaller 
genera Nepticula , Lilhocolletin, &c., is 
being pushed here to a considerable 
extent. — H. T. Stainton, Brussels; 
May 19. 
Recipe for obtaining Specimens of 
Wasps’ Nests in various Stages of Forma- 
tion . — Choose a bank, the drier the better, 
in a locality known to be frequented by 
those insects, in which form a number 
of chambers a few yards apart. These 
chambers should be oven-like excava- 
tions, some five or six inches in diameter. 
Having formed a chamber, insert a small 
wooden peg in the centre of the roof, to 
which the nest will be attached. Close 
up the mouth of the excavation with clay, 
leaving only an aperture sufficient for the 
entrance of the insect for whose use it 
has been prepared. Stick around the 
orifice bits of moss, grass, &c., so as to 
make the spot harmonize in appearance 
with the other portions of the bank, lest 
it prove too conspicuous au object, aud 
so attract other eyes than those it was in- 
tended should be drawn to it. The best 
tool for forming the excavations is a thin 
and moderately broad carpenter’s chisel. 
Of course the chances of success will be 
increased in proportion to the number of 
chambers formed, and also in proportion 
to the number of localities chosen. They 
should be ready for occupation before the 
end of April, but the present date, and 
perhaps a fortnight to come, will be found 
not to be too late. Having prepared as 
many chambers as may be found con- 
venient, and the season having arrived 
for the insects to commence their labours, 
let an inspection of the various excava- 
tions be at once proceeded with. By 
removing the “stopper” from the mouth 
of No. 1, you will be enabled to see at a 
glance whether a nest has been begun, 
and if such should prove to be the case, 
and you decide on securing it for a spe- 
cimen, carefully loosen with your knife 
the peg to which it adheres, and having 
withdrawn it insert another peg in its 
place, replace the “ stopper,” and then 
go on to No. 2. If you find a nest here 
in about as advanced a state as that in 
No. 1, replace the plug and let it remain 
till sufficient additions have been made 
to the nest to serve for your second spe- 
cimen. By adopting the same plan with 
reference to the remaining excavations, 
allowing each nest to remain till it has 
reached the exact point required, you will 
be enabled to obtain a series of nests 
ranging from the very commencement of 
the work to the completion of the struc- 
ture. Before young wasps are produced 
care should be taken not too often to dis- 
turb the old one, who up to that period 
is the sole architect, if you desire the 
work to be continued : you should there- 
fore wait a few minutes near the entrance 
to the nest, and watch her away before 
venturing upon an examination, which 
you may then do with safety, having full 
time to make the examination and reclose 
the entrance before her return. When 
the colony begins to increase and become 
strong you will find it convenient to make 
the inspection after nightfall, and to in- 
troduce within the aperture a few drops 
of chloroform before attempting to secure 
the nest. Beside the chances of obtaining 
specimens which the adoption of the plau 
I have recommended reduces to a cer- 
tainty, there are other advantages to be 
derived from it which, with the Editor’s 
permission, I will point out in a future 
