an insect belonging to the genus Icaria. These | Whenever the Hornet takes up its residence in nests, or rather these series of cells, are an inhabited house, as is sometimes the case, made after a singular fashion. First, the in- the inmates are sure to be in arms against the sect attaches to the branch a foot-stalk com- insect, and with good reason. Its sting is exposed of the same material as that with which ceedingly venomous, and it is popularly said the cells are formed. This foot-stalk, although that three hornets can kill a man. Moreover, slender, is very hard, solid, and tough, and can the Hornet is an irascible insect, and given to uphold a considerable weight, as is necessary assault those whom it fancies are approaching from the manner of constructing the nest. She its nest with evil intentions. Consequently it then makes a cell after the ordinary wasp-fash- is a matter of no slight difficulty to obtain a ion, attaching it to the foot-stalk with its mouth nest, or to watch the process of its construcdownward, and at first making it comparatively tion. In the illustration is shown the exterior short. When the cell has nearly attained its of a partially finished nest, and the manner in due length a second is placed alongside the which the hornets enter at different parts. first, and a third is added in like manner, each Hornets may be forced to build a much more being lengthened as required. As the cells at beautiful nest than they ordinarily construct. the base of the series are finished first it is ev- One nest, when of moderate size, was removed ident that they gradually diminish toward the by a naturalist from the head of a tree, and end, those at the extremity being often not placed in a large glazed box, within which the one quarter so long as those at the base. hornets continued their labors, and a most beautiful nest was produced, symmetrical in shape and variegated with wonderfully rich colors. In order, however, to produce this result it is necessary to select the richest-colored woods, and place them where the insects shall be induced to use them in the construction of their nest. The common Hive Bee deserves our admiration on account of the wonderful manner in which it constructs its social home, and the method by which that home is regulated. But there is another insect, as well known by name, but with whose habits we are somewhat shy of attempting to become intimately familiar. This is the common Hornet, whose nest is almost invariably built in hollow trees, deserted outhouses, and places of a similar description. In the collection of the British Museum may be seen a very remarkable nest, which is made by some species of wasp at present unknown, Аб but which may appropriately be called the Mud | remarkable nest seems to have set every rule Wasp. It was found in a Guianan forest sus- at defiance, and to have shown an entire conpended to a branch, which passed through a tempt of foes and indifference to rain. hole in the solid walls of the nest. Unfortu-may be seen by reference to the illustration, nately, in its passage to England, it was broken the entrance is extremely long, though not and much damaged, but the fragments were wide, and extends through nearly the length collected and skillfully put together, and the of the nest, so that the edges of the combs can nest restored to its original shape, with the ex-be seen by looking into the aperture. The ception of an aperture through which the interior may be seen. The material of which it is formed is mud, or clay, which is moulded by the insect until it has attained a wonderful tenacity and strength, and is rendered so plastic as to be worked nearly as neatly as the waxen bee-cell. It is of rather a large size, measuring about thirteen inches in length, by nine in width, and filled with combs. A large quantity of clay is worked around the chosen branch, and made very strong, in order to sustain the heavy weight which will be suspended from it. This clay foundation is very hard, though brittle. One of the most remarkable points in the construction of this nest is the entrance. In pensile nests the insect usually forms the opening below, so that it may be sheltered from the wind and rain. Moreover, it is usually of small dimensions, evidently in order to prevent the inroads of parasitic insects and other foes, and to give the sentinels a small gateway to defend. But the particular wasp which built this edges of the entrance are rounded, so that the outer edge is wider than the inner; but it is still sufficiently wide to allow the little finger of a man's hand to be passed into the interior; while its length is so great that forty or fifty insects might enter or leave the nest together. The nest of the Pasteboard Wasp is suspended to a branch, which passes through a hole or ring, so large that the structure is permitted to swing freely in the wind. The dimensions of the nest are variable, each one appearing to be capable of unlimited enlargement. The mode by which the wasps increase the size of their pensile home is equally simple and efficacious. When the number of the inhabitants becomes so large that a fresh series of cells is required, the insects enlarge their home with perfect ease, and at the same time without destroying its symmetry, a point which is often forgotten when human architects undertake the enlargement of some fine old edifice. Taking the bottom of the nest as the starting-point, they build upon it a series of cells, taking care to add another row or two to the circumference, so as to increase the diameter in proportion to the length. They then add fresh material to the outer wall, which is lengthened so as to include NEST OF THE PASTEBOARD WASP. the new tier of cells, and then the bottom is closed with a new floor, which in its turn will become the ceiling of the next tier of cells. An average nest is about one foot in length and of proportionate width; but now and then a positive giant of a nest is discovered where the colony has been undisturbed, and circumstances have been favorable to its increase. One of the largest, if not the very largest, of these pasteboard nests that has yet been discovered, was found in Ceylon, attached to the inside of a huge palm-leaf, and was of the astonishing length of six feet. Now, to form an idea of a nest six feet in length is not very easy. It is so huge as scarcely to be credited except from actual sight. We all know how conspicuous among ordinary men is one who measures six feet in height, and we shall form a better idea of the nest in question, if we reckon it to be equal in length to a "six-foot" man, and of course to structure. The combs are not fastened directoccupy much more space on account of its bell-ly to the branches, but are attached to footlike shape. stalks which spring from their centre, and are The members of the genus Polistes are in firmly cemented upon the branch or twig. How the habit of building their cells in the open air, wonderfully the insect must manage the comb and leaving them without covering to defend so that it shall be balanced on this slender footthem. The species which make the cells rep- stalk! To preserve the equilibrium of even an resented in the illustration is one of the most empty comb would be difficult enough, but when remarkable, both from the elegant form of the the cells are filled with fat, heavy grubs the difcombs and the singular method of their attach- ficulty must be multiplied with every one. The ment. Generally, the shape of the comb is near-foot-stalks are made of the same papier-mâchély round, as is seen in the upper figure of the il-like substance as the cells, only the layers are lustration. The cells are remarkable for their so tightly compressed together that they form radiating form, the bases being a trifle smaller a hard, solid mass, very much like the little than the mouths, a peculiarity which would hardly be noticed in a single cell, but which produces the spreading outline when a number of them are massed together. Some of the cells are closed, indicating that the undeveloped insect is within. Now comes the curious part of the VOL. XXXIII.-No. 194.-M pillars which support the different stories of an ordinary wasp's nest, but of much greater size. The position of the combs is extremely variable, some being nearly horizontal, and others perpendicular, as shown in the illustration. These came from Bareilly, in the East Indies. PUBLIC TOWER OF BELEM. A LOOK AT LISBON. DUBLIC attention has recently been attracted to the city of Lisbon by the unfortunate firing into the Niagara from Belem Tower, and by the unusual frequency with which arrivals of our national vessels are announced at this port. Before the rebellion our vessels of war seldom entered the Tagus; now it is generally understood that the European squadron will winter there. Conveniently situated as a point of departure for the chief commercial countries of the Christian world, and possessed of unequaled natural advantages, it is remarkable that only Great Britain should heretofore have made it a naval rendezvous. Our vessels, in times past, confined to the Mediterranean, have had their head-quarters at Port Mahon in the Island of Minorca, and more recently at Spezzia in Italy, but the necessity for watching robel cruisers compelled them to seek shelter and repair in the sea-ports of the western coast, while the distrust with which we must hereafter regard the movements of the great maritime powers will require us to keep a force in their waters on the alert to vindicate the national honor and authority. The advantage of having our chief naval rendezvous at Lisbon is evident. Being within speedy telegraphic communication with all Europe, and receiving news less than a fort night old from our own country, emergencies arising in the North and West, on the African coast, among the Atlantic islands, the West Indies, and even in South America may be far more promptly attended to than though it were inside the Straits of Gibraltar, through which the only powers that are apt to give us offense could render exit difficult. The same might be said in favor of Cadiz-if not from time immemorial at least from that of the Phoenicians, who called it Gades-the favorite entrepôt of Southwestern Europe; but the Bay of Cadiz is an unsheltered roadstead, visited at all seasons by high winds, for days interrupting communication with the city, which, from the shoalness of the water, is always inconveniently distant from the ship, while Lisbon is but seven miles above the mouth of the Tagus, where it averages from one to four miles in width, with an anchorage always easy of access, and, but a few hundred yards from the quays of one of the great marts of the Old World, at which, however tempestuous the weather, it is never impossible to land. Were every thing else equal, the annoyances attending the quarantine at Cadiz, which, as elsewhere within the Spanish dominions, is a disgrace to civilization, should decide men-of-war to prefer Lisbon, where no such inconveniences are experienced. |