Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 45.djvu/359

 transverse parallel tubings and goffered. The fibers of the tissue are arranged with surprising regularity; all the zones are united with consummate art, and meet in a long and plainly shown line; the paper may be also variegated with longitudinal bands of different colors. The vase is firmly fixed to its axis at points slightly above and below the uppermost and lowermost combs; at no part is it in continuity with the combs; there is plenty of space between the two fabrics for the wasps to pass up and down within their home with ease. Taking advantage of the wholly lateral position of the combs with respect to the axis, the wasps render their building less fragile than it would otherwise have been by placing the branch to one side of the spindle, and it saves time and trouble, without materially impairing the support, to leave the wood exposed at the posterior surface of the papery mass. The opening is small and situated at the lower end (see Fig. 3).

Very extraordinary are some of the nests in the collection of the British Museum—the works of Myrapetra scutellaris (see



Fig. 4), a mere fanciful title. These huge erections are from Central America, and the native authorities say of one that it is not composed of wood fibers, but of the dung of the capincha, one of the aquatic cavies of the region. One's attention is instantly attracted to the fairly conical knobs or tubercles with