greatly resembles that of the bee; and the
curious structure of their nests, equals the saga
city of that insect, in its order and accommoda
tion. They frequently choose some dry bank,
on which they form their city; its shape is
that of an upright oval, measuring about ten
or twelve inches in diameter. The inside con
sists of several stages, of hexagonal or six
sided cells, placed horizontally, and the inter
stices of each stage being connected by upright
pillars. The outside of the nest is guarded by
a great many layers of a paper-like substance,
so disposed as to secure their dwelling from
the efl~cts of cold and damp. This external
covering is formed of the fibres of various dry
vegetable substances, connected together by a
gummy fluid, discharged from the mouths of
the insects during their operations. This nu
merous commonwealth is founded by a single
female, who deposits one egg in each cell
which serves as a cradle for the young larva
or maggots. These are fed by the neuter Or
labouring wasps, with a coarse kind of honey;
and when arrived at their full size, close up
their respective cells with a fine tissue of silken
filaments, and after a certain period emerge in
their complete form. The male insects are
destitute of a sting, and are very few in num
her, in comparison with the neuter or labouring
insect s
