Journal of Proceedings.
cxxxiii
Mr. W. Cole exhibited, on behalf of Mrs. Clapham, of Woodford
Bridge, a nest of a somewhat rare species of wasp, Vespa norvegica, Fabr.
The wasps built their nest in a black-currant bush during the past
summer. Specimens caught by Master Clapham, issuing from the nest,
were of two species, Vespa norvegica and V. sylvestris, Scop ,and a very
interesting question arose as to whether these forms were really distinct
as species, or whether it was a case of commensalism—two distinct
species building a nest in common. Mr. Cole hoped that attention
would be directed to the subject, should suspended wasp nests be found
during the next summer.
[Mr. E. Saunders, to whom the specimens had been referred, wrote,
" Your wasps are certainly what are generally considered as belonging
to two species, the three on one side of the box being V. sylvestris, and
the two others ♀ and ♀ V. norvegica. They both, as I dare say you know,
belong to the section of Vespa, which has a distinct check between the
eye and the mandibles, and are, I think, only structurally distinguish-
able in the ♂ sex, at least I can find no differential characters to
separate the one from the other in the ♀ and ♀, although the species
differ much in size, colour, and pubescence. It is very curious that this
sort of ♂ character should exist so strongly between V. vulgaris and
V. germanicus, and between V. sylvestris and V. norvegica, and yet that
the ♀ and ♀ should be so similar, and the finding of sylvestris and
norvegica in one nest would be most interesting."]
Mr. N. E. Robarts remarked that a nest apparently similar to that
forwarded by Mrs. Clapham was exhibited at the Apple and Fruit Show
recently held under the auspices of the Woodford Horticultural Society.
Mr. Cole also exhibited, on behalf of Mr. Joseph Clarke, a specimen
of Erucastrum inodorum, first found in Britain by Mr. Joshua Clarke at
Wenden, in 1865.
Mr. Henry Stopes, F.G.S., read a paper on " The Salting Mounds of
Essex," the paper being illustrated by some large scale maps, and speci-
mens of the coarse pottery, &c., found in the mounds [the paper is
printed in the ' Essex Naturalist,' vol. i., pp. 96-105].
A long discussion followed, in which the President, Messrs. Meldola,
Holmes, Dalton, Robarts, the author, and others took part, and Mr. Cole
read some extracts from letters received from Rev. J. C. Atkinson, refer-
ring to the subject.
A cordial vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Stopes, and the meeting
closed with the usual conversazione.
Saturday, January 31st, 1885. Annual General Meeting.
The fifth Annual General Meeting was held in the Loughton Public
Hall at half-past six o'clock, the President, Prof. Boulger, in the chair.
Previous to the usual business, the Meeting was made Special in