374 
STRANGE DWELLINGS . 
systematic manner, a group occupying the centre, and being 
surrounded at a little distance with a row of covered cells which 
follow the shape of the exterior outline, and therefore take the 
shape of a hexagon. 
The insect well deserves its scientific title. The generic name 
Apoica is formed from two Greek words, which signifies a 
colony, and the specific title pallida is given in reference to the 
hue of the body. It is not a handsome nor even a striking 
insect, being long, slender, and very pale yellow, looking as if 
it had once been decorated with a brighter covering. It has 
altogether a faded and semi-bleached look, suggesting to a 
practical entomologist that it had been subjected to sulphur- 
fumes, and thereby lost its colouring. Even the wings have 
the same pallid hue as the body, but with a white cast, and 
altogether the insect seems far too purposeless of aspect to 
construct houses which demand so much energy as those which 
we have just examined. 
Our last example of insect pensile nests is, I believe, one 
that has not yet been described, owing to its recent arrival in 
this country. 
Whilst I was examining some specimens in the insect-room 
of the British Museum, two gentlemen brought for examination 
a box full of insect habitations, which they could not identify 
with those of any known species. At first sight they appeared 
to be specimens of galls, but a more careful inspection soon 
showed their real character. They were formed very much like 
those of the Housebuilder Moth (see page 166), but with a 
singular addition. Several specimens are now before me, which 
will be briefly described. 
The foundation of the nest is a structure of leaf-stems and 
fragments of leaves, varying much in size, some being thicker 
than crowquills, and others as fine as ordinary needles. These 
are arranged cross-wise upon each other, so that the nest might 
easily be mistaken for that of a large caddis-worm. The nests, 
however, differ much in form, size, and material, — some being 
