In a recently-published volume of 'Travels in Mexico,' we find a very remarkable account of some pendulous nests of caterpillars, which appear to be almost as curious as the nests of the pasteboard-making wasps, described at p. 177. The author of these Travels does not define the species of caterpillar whose constructions attracted his observation. He says, "After having ascended for about an hour, we came to the region of oaks and other majestically tall trees, the names of which I could not learn. Suspended from their stately branches were innumerable nests, enclosed, apparently, in white paper bags, in the manner of bunches of grapes in England, to preserve them from birds and flies. I had the curiosity to examine one of them, which I found to contain numberless caterpillars. The texture is so strong that it is not easily torn; and the interior contained a quantity of green leaves, to support the numerous progeny within."[EI] [We will now give a brief account of several foreign insects that are remarkable for the pendulous nests which they make. The first of these is built by a hymenopterous insect belonging to the genus Larrada. It is fastened to the under side of a leaf, and is made of vegetable fibres, cut up very short, and masticated by the insect, much like the materials used by the Fungus Ant, described on page 311. The insect which forms this nest is black in colour and has very thick legs. The wings are clouded. It is but a small insect, being only three-eighths of an inch in length. Both nest and insect are in the collection of Mr. F. Smith, of the British Museum. [Illustration: Nest of Larrada.] In the next illustration are seen two nests built by hymenopterous insects belonging to the hymenopterous genus Polybia. The left-hand figure represents a nest made by Polybia sedula, a Brazilian insect. It is fixed to a large leaf, and, as may be seen, has the entrance at the end of a long neck. The exterior of the nest is a very thin sheet of pale-brown substance, almost identical with the paper with which our British wasps make their nests. It is, however, very much stronger and very much thinner, and is very close in texture, so that it effectually excludes rain. [Illustration: Nests of Polybia.] The right-hand figure shows a nest also brought from Brazil. It has no neck, the opening being a mere hole beneath. The name Polybia is derived from two Greek words signifying that many insects live together, and has been given to the genus on account of the social habits of its members. Our next illustration contains some very remarkable nests.