Page:The Zoologist, 1st series, vol 1 (1843).djvu/193

Rh seum, where I was permitted to consult the Linnæan cabinet, and there I found a specimen ticketed V. vulgaris, agreeing exactly with the original description in the Systema Naturæ.' I next consulted the Banksian cabinet, named by Fabricius, and found a specimen with a ticket attached as V. vulgaris, precisely corresponding with that in the Linnaean cabinet, and agreeing with the description given by Fabricius. Seeing that the insects, as well as the descriptions of these illustrious authors, precisely agree, I think no better or more satisfactory evidence can be adduced.

The V. vulgaris of Linnaeus is an insect, very variable, not only in its colouring and appearance, but also in its habits. The difference of colouring will be found on the abdomen and clypeus, in other parts it is pretty constant. I have given figures of some of the varieties of V. vulgaris; and it will be found, that out of these, four species have been made by different authors. Fig c (p. 162) represents a female of the V. vulgaris of Linnæus, Fabricius, Latreille and Panzer; fig. d is the V. germanica of Panzer, and perhaps of St. Fargeau, but as the last-named author does not mention the three spots on the first segment of the abdomen, I hesitate to speak decidedly. St. Fargeau's descriptions of V. vulgaris and V. germanica scarcely differ. He points out the "halbert-shaped" mark on the clypeus of V. vulgaris, but describes that part in V. germanica as having "one or three spots," which is a very inconstant character. He also remarks that V. vulgaris is rather the smaller insect, but I can detect no difference in this respect. Fig. e, a neuter, is, I have no doubt, the V. germanica both of Linnaeus and Fabricius; the former says—ff less than the common wasp," and the latter—"small V. vulgaris." Of this there are several specimens in the Linnæan cabinet. Fig. b, a male, I consider to be the V. saxonica of Linnæus and Fabricius; the descriptions of these authors precisely agree; both of them point out the yellow front of the scape of the antennæ. Fabricius also considers it a variety of V. vulgaris, and mentions the long prominent hairs upon the head and thorax. Panzer has also correctly named and figured it as V. saxonica.

I will now give my reasons for considering all the varieties figured and described to be one and the same species,—Vespa vulgaris. I have taken pairs in copulâ, in which the varieties were so intermingled as to leave no doubt on my mind about the matter. Thus, fig. b, a male, and d, a female, and fig. a, a male, and c, a female, have been found thus paired; and in Mr. Westwood's series of wasps, obligingly sent me for examination, I find the varieties represented by the