HYMENOPTERA. 
4i 
workers, and males or drones. The nests are formed of a kind of paper manu¬ 
factured from the dry parings of old posts and trees. Since we have already dealt 
briefly with the general habits of the Vespidce, further reference to them, save as 
occasion for their mention arises in the course of subsequent description of species, 
will be unnecessary. The members of the family may themselves be distinguished 
at once from all other Hymenoptera by the peculiar arrangement of the wings 
when folded at rest. The fore-wings partly enclose the hind-wings, both pairs 
lying along the sides of the abdomen, not concealing it from above. The food of 
wasps consists of the saccharine matter derived from various’ vegetable products 
and also from animal matter. As regards the distribution of species—apart from 
the usual increase in size and beauty of colouring—it may be remarked that the 
closer the equatorial regions are approached, the more numerous do members of 
a e d 
LIFE-HISTORY OF THE HORNET. 
a , l, Adult; c, Portion of brood-cells ; d, Larva; e, Pupa. (d and e somewhat enlarged.) 
this group become. Of the better-known forms the common hornet {Vespa crabro) 
is readily distinguished from other species of wasps by its large size and the 
prevailing red tint on the anterior portions of the body. It is universally dis¬ 
tributed throughout Europe, and occurs as far north as Lapland. The solitarj- 
female, after her hibernation, commences to build the first foundation of her nest 
in May on some convenient beam in a loft or outhouse, or frequently in the 
holes made in the eaves of thatched cottages by sparrows. The food of the grubs 
consists of the bodies of insects, bees, etc., which the workers chew up for their 
benefit. On the approach of autumn the remaining larvae, which have not yet 
been hatched out, are torn from their cells and left to perish. Under the title of 
common wasps no less than five species may be included, although V. vulgaris is 
the common wasp par excellence. V. germanica may be recognised by the three 
