"This is not casual but invariable, as the ridges remaining plainly mark the precise limits of every load.

When a little more in length is finished than suffices for a single cell, the work ceases for awhile, an egg is laid in the bottoni, though this end is generally uppermost, and spiders are brought in. This species usually, not always, selects a very beautiful species of Tetragnatha, bright green with white spots; and it is worth remarking that spiders are carried both with the jaws and feet, one of the forelegs of the spider being grasped in the mouth, while the body is held under that of the fly, and sustained by the anterior and middle legs and feet, the posterior pair being extended behind, as usual during flight.

"When the first cell is stocked, it is closed up by a transverse partition of mud, and the thimble goes on increasing as before. When finished, one will contain three or even four cells, and then a new one is commenced, adjoining and parallel with it. In both this and the other species, I believe that the enclosed grub eats only the abdomen of the spiders (which are so stung as to be helpless but not dead) as the cephalothorax and legs of each may generally be found afterwards in the cell."

The same writer noticed a remarkable instance of ingenuity in these insects. An empty ink-bottle about an inch and a half in length lay on the table. The neck of this bottle was one day seen to be stopped up with a substance like white pipe-clay, and when this was broken, the bottle was found to be stored with spiders. The fact was, that a Pelopæus had spied out the bottle, and thought that she had a fine opportunity of providing a home for her young without troubling herself to build a regular nest. A day or two afterwards, the Dauber returned to see after the nest, and finding that it had been disturbed, she entered the bottle, took out all the spiders, replaced them with fresh specimens, and then re-closed the mouth. It is evident from this fact, that the insect does not entirely abandon her young when she has completed and closed the nest.

Another curious discovery was also made while watching the Pelopæus. If the reader will refer to the illustration, he will see that the abdomen of the insect is supported on a very long and slender peduncle, or footstalk. Mr. Gosse was naturally anxious to discover how the insect could draw the abdomen out of the pupal skin when it came to change into its perfect condition.

On examining some specimens. he discovered the curious fact, that the pupal envelope did not sit closely to the body, but that it was as wide in the middle as at either end, so that when the insect came to assume its perfect form, the peduncle was quite loose in the centre of the envelope, and the abdomen could be drawn out without any difficulty.

These observations are peculiarly valuable, because they set at rest a question which was raised by several entomologists, who thought that the nests were made by some species of eumenes, and that the Pelopæus was a mere parasite upon them, like the cryptus, and many other of the ichneumonidæ.

IF the reader will refer to the large engraving, entitled "Mr. Stone's Wasp-nests," he will see a representation of four square boxes, each containing an object which would hardly be taken for a wasp's-nest at a little distance. Such, however, is the case; and these boxes are four selected examples out of a series of six which were built in Mr. Stone's house, and presented by him to the British Museum. The story of these nests is very remarkable, and shows how much we have to learn concerning the habits and instincts of insects.

In the month of August, 1862, a nest of the common WASF (Vespa germanica), was taken near Brighthampton, and handed over to Mr. Stone, who has long been in the habit of experimenting upon these insects. One extraordinary nest which was built by wasps under his auspices, has already been mentioned on page 256.

The nest was very much damaged by carriage, and Mr. Stone took it entirely to pieces, placing one or two small combs inside a square wooden box with a glass front, and supporting them by a wire which passed through the combs to the roof of the box. He then fixed the box in a window, so as to allow the insects free ingress and egress through a hole in the back.

About three hundred of the workers were then collected, placed in the box, and well supplied with sugar and beer. They immediately began to work, and their first object was to cover the combs with paper. They worked with great rapidity, and in two days had formed a flask-shaped nest, having covered both the combs and the wire, beside plastering large sheets of paper over the sides of the box. They did not attempt to build upon

the glass front, because it was frequently moved in order to introduce a supply of sugar. This nest is represented at fig. 4 in the illustration, and one of the wasps is introduced, in order to show the comparative dimensions of the nest and its archi

tects.

As the wasps were building at such a rate, it was evident that they would shortly fill the whole box with a shapeless mass of paper. Another similar box was therefore prepared, and the wasps ejected by tapping the box which was already completed. As soon as they were all out, the second box was substituted for the first, and the wasps crowded eagerly into it and again began their labours. In this box they were allowed to remain for a week, and the result was as is seen in fig. 3. The wasps were now transferred to a third box, in which they laboured for four days, and produced a nest somewhat similar to the others, but not quite so symmetrical.

At this time Mr. Stone fitted up another box with two rows of wire pillars, eight in number, placed with tolerable regularity about two inches apart, and having a piece of comb at the base and summit of each. In this box the wasps remained for fifteen days, and in that time had covered all the wires and most of the combs, and had nearly filled the box with paper.

To all

In order that a more symmetrical structure might be produced, a fifth box was fitted up with wires arranged in a different manner. Four wires were placed across the box, rather in advance of the middle, and two others in front of them. these wires a piece of comb was fixed at the base and summit, but between the two central pillars a short wire was placed, having a piece of comb at its summit only. The wasps were transferred to this box, and in the short space of five days, they covered all the combs and wires, and produced the extraordinary structure which is shown in fig. 1, and which looks like a paper imitation of a stalactitic cavern. The insects were ejected from this nest before they had finished their work, and in consequence, a portion of the comb on the small central pillar is still left. uncovered.

As this box had been so successful, another was prepared on the same principle, and the wasps were permitted to reside in it for the same number of days, in which time they produced an equally beautiful but rather more massive nest. This specimen