into the tube of the mentum; fig. 83. 8. the same entirely exserted; fig. 83. 9. the anterior fossorial tarsus; fig. 83. 10. the base of the posterior tarsus with the ciliated tibial spur; fig. 83. 11. the abdomen of the female seen sideways, showing that the ventral arc of the first segment is anteriorly transformed into a complete cylinder, forming the first apparent segment of the peduncle). The species inhabit sandy districts, in which A. sabulosa Linn. (vulgaris Kirby) forms its burrow, using its jaws in burrowing; and when they are loaded, it ascends backwards to the mouth, turns quickly round, flies to about a foot's distance, gives a sudden turn, throwing the sand in a complete shower to about six inches' distance, and again alights at the mouth of its burrow. (Westwood, in Trans. Ent. Soc. vol. i. p. 200.)

Latreille states that this species provisions its cells with caterpillars, but Mr. Shuckard states he has observed the female dragging a very large inflated spider up the nearly perpendicular side of a sand-bank, at least twenty feet high, and that whilst burrowing it makes a loud whirring buzz (Essay p. 77.); and in the Trans. Entomol. Soc. (vol. i. p. 57.) he states that he had detected both A. sabulosa and hirsuta dragging along large black spiders. Mr. Curtis observed it bury the caterpillars of a Noctua and Geometra. (Brit. Entomol. pl. 604.) St. Fargeau, however, states A. sabulosa collects caterpillars of large size, especially those of Noctuæ, with a surprising perseverance, whereas A. arenaria Fab. (hirsuta Scop. K. and Shk.), forming a distinct section in the genus, collects spiders (Encycl. Méth. tom. x. p. 452.). Walckenaer also states that A. sabulosa "enterre des chenilles." (Mém. Halicte, p. 47.) In the Trans. Entomol. Soc. (vol. i. p. 199.) I have published a detailed account of the mode in which A. hirsuta constructs its cell, and which differs in some respects from that of A. sabulosa, and of the manner in which it carries along and buries a large smooth green caterpillar of one of the Noctuidae. Whilst burrowing, I also observed that it made a loud buzzing noise. It also appeared to me that each burrow was intended only for a single cell; Latreille, however, seems to imply the contrary. (R. An. tom. v. p. 322.) It is to the last named species that I refer the very interesting account given by Ray (Hist. Insect. p. 254.) of the proceedings of a species of "Vespa Ichneumon," observed by

* M. Goureau also notices the same fact in A. sabulosa, in Ann. Soc. Ent. France, 1837, p. 66.

himself and Willughby, and which not only formed its cell in the earth, and buried a green caterpillar therein three times larger than itself, but afterwards carefully closed the hole by rolling in particles of sand and bits of stone. It was also observed to fly to a fir tree, as it seemed, to fetch a supply of resin to agglutinate the sand together, and it ultimately fetched two fir leaves, which it placed over the mouth of the burrow to mark the spot.

The males are exceedingly ardent during their amours, seizing their partners round the neck with their sickle-shaped jaws. I have represented (fig. 83. 12.) the cocoon of A. sabulosa, dug out of a sand-bank at Coombe Wood, and presented to me by Mr. Ingpen. The insect had made its escape at the top, gnawing it open irregularly: it is of a white, slender, and papyritious texture, and encloses a second distinct cocoon of a similar nature, but lined with a shining brown substance. Réaumur's pl. 28. fig. 8-11. represent the cocoon and larva of an insect, probably belonging to this family, having been found, sous terre," with remnants of flies.* But Réaumur seems to have mistaken the head of the larva for the tail (fig. 83. 13. in a reversed position).

The Palopai are for the most part exotic, and construct their nests in the corners of rooms, &c. consisting of several ranges of numerous cells of fine earth, the entrances to which are from beneath, each cell being surrounded by a spiral layer of earth. Drury, however, figures the nest as consisting of about a dozen cells, enveloped in a general case of mud, which does not exhibit any spiral arrangement, as figured by Réaumur. In each cell the insect places a green caterpillar or spider, which is then closed, according to Palisot de Beauvois; but according to Bonnet, the cells are revisited by the parent fly after the grub has consumed the enclosed food, in order to give it a fresh supply, and which is repeated until it has attained its full growth. Palisot de Beauvois and Drury have given accounts of the proceedings of these insects (Illust. Ins. Sphex cœmentaria, tom. i. p. 99., Pelop. lunatus Fab.), stating that spiders are deposited in the cells.† (See also Disderi, in Turin Trans. vol. iii. (P. spirifex); Réaumur,

Réaumur states (tom. vi. p. 292.) that this larva " devient une guêpe ichneumon dont le corps tient au corselet par un long fil;" but in a preceding page (278.) he states that his larva had died, and that he regarded it as the larva of such insect upon the authority of Vallisnieri, (vol. i. pl. 3. fol.), where a similar cocoon and imago, answering to this description, had been figured.

† In the nests observed by Mr. Saunders, caterpillars were stored up.

Mém. tom. vi. mém. 8. pl. 28. f. 4—6. representing the nest and imago of a species from St. Domingo.) Such is the account given in various works; but an indefatigable observer, W. W. Saunders, Esq., F.L.S., in a memoir upon the habits of some Indian insects, published in the Trans. Entomol. Soc. (vol. i. p. 62.), seems to have satisfactorily proved that the nests in question are constructed by a species of Eumenes, and that the Pelopæi are parasites upon them, having opened several cells constructed by the Eumenes, and found Pelopæus therein.*

In support of this opinion I may observe, 1. that the legs of the female Pelopæi are simple, and unprovided with apparatus for the construction of such nests; and 2. that it is only amongst the bees and wasps that we find the habit of constructing nests with materials brought from a distance.

Some of the exotic species of the restricted genus Sphex are amongst the largest species of Hymenopterous insects. St. Fargeau states that he was not acquainted with the precise food stored up in their nests. An interesting account has, however, been given of the habits of two American species by Latrobe, in the Trans. Philos. Soc. of Philadelph., vol. vi.; one of these is the Sphex cærulea, which, according to Catesby, has been known to drag a spider along eight times its own weight. In the Philosophical Transactions for 1749, an account is given by Mr. Bartram of the economy of a yellowish species of Sphex from Pennsylvania, which, (as well as a Sphex ? observed by Duhamel, and recorded by Réaumur,) instead of burying spiders or caterpillars, is asserted to supply its young with a periodical provision of living flies. Another species of Sphex, or perhaps more probably an Ammophila, from Pennsylvania, buries two or three large green grasshoppers for the food of its posterity, which it stings in such a manner that they remain half alive till the larva is hatched. (See also Carpenter, in Gill's Technol. Repos, 1829.) The beautiful East Indian and Mauritian species Ampulex? (Jur. Chlorion Latr.) compressum Fabr., according to Sonnerat (Voyage aux Indes Orient.) and Réaumur (Mém. tom. vi. p. 280.), provisions its nest with Blattæ,

* Drury figures the cocoon of the Pelopæus found in the cells, agreeing with that of Ammophila, so that there can be no doubt that the Pelopæus is reared therein. + Here, as in the observations upon Mellinus and Pelopæus, I can but observe, that the fact of a periodical feeding of the larvæ by the parent fly is problematical. I believe this is done by none but social insects.

which it first stings to death. The account of the proceedings of this species was communicated to the latter by M. Cossigni, who had observed it in the Isle of Bourbon.

The second subfamily Pompilides has the collar either transversely or longitudinally square, with the abdomen more or less oval, and attached to the thorax by a very short peduncle. The legs are very long. The fore wings have two or three perfect submarginal cells, and another commenced at the tip of the wings. The maxillary palpi are more robust than in Ammophila (fig. 83. 17.), and the labial lobes much shorter (fig. 83. 18. Pompilus). These sand-wasps are amongst the most ferocious of the insect tribes, and some of the large exotic species of Pepsis are the largest of known Hymenoptera; many of them have their wings black, or varied, and shining with the most brilliant metallic tints. The species of the British genus Pompilus are exceedingly active, running amongst grass, &c. in hot sandy situations with great agility, and with their wings in constant agitation: their long legs give them much the appearance of spiders; and, indeed, some of the species provision their cells (which they burrow in the sand) with these insects, which they first sting to death. P. niger, however, attacks a small Lepidopterous larva. (Shuckard, Essay, p. 52.) Some of the species of this genus have the legs unarmed, as P. bifasciatus and petiolatus: these Mr. Shuckard considers to nidificate in wood (Trans. Ent. Soc. vol. i. p. 56.); although, never having observed any species with these habits, he considers it would necessarily be such as are without the ciliation of the tarsi. St. Fargeau also states that some species make their nests in burrows, which they discover already formed in wood, without, however, naming such species. We have already seen that the absence of cilia does not necessarily indicate wood burrowing habits, according to Mr. Shuckard's theory, neither does it indicate parasitic habits in these insects, according to St. Fargeau's, as I have proved by observing the proceedings of P. petiolatus in the act of carrying its prey, which consisted of a large dead spider *; and of a species allied to P. petiolatus, which I captured in the act of burrowing in the sand of the Drachenfels, although furnished with simple tarsi. (Westwood, in Ann. Soc. Ent. de France, 1836, p. 300.)

I have more recently observed P. petiolatus in the act of forming its cell in the chinks of the walls of my residence at Hammersmith. It employs a particular kind of clayey soil, which it carefully selects for this purpose.

Another species (P. fuscus), whose proceedings I observed at Coombe, is most persevering and undaunted in its endeavours to carry its prey to its place of destination. This consisted of a large dead ant, which it endeavoured to drag up a perpendicular bank, and ultimately succeeded after many falls. The armature of the fore and hind legs, as first noticed by Van der Linden (Obs. Hym. Fouiss. vol. i. p. 35.), affords good characters for the division of this genus into minor groups, and has been employed by Schiodte to separate the Danish species into five genera (as indicated in my generic synopsis), including Ceropales (fig. 83. 14. C. maculata, fig. 83. 15. anterior tarsus, fig. 83. 16. posterior tibia), which has perfectly simple legs, and which St. Fargeau regards, with apparent justice, as a parasite, having often observed the females of this genus enter backwards into the nests of some of the real fossorial species, which he considered a certain proof that their object was to deposit their own eggs therein. (Enc. Méth. tom. x. p. 183.) In some unpublished drawings of Abbott, the Georgian entomologist, I have observed representations of the attacks of a species of Pompilus upon a spider.

Amongst the exotic genera of this family may especially be mentioned Trigonopsis Perty, distinguished by its very long collar and flat triangular head, from Brazil; Pronæus Latr., having immense sickle-shaped mandibles; and Planiceps Latr., having the collar long and square, and the head flat.

The family SCOLIIDE* (including the Sapygides) is distinguished by having the collar laterally extending to the base of the wings

BIBLIOGR. REFER. TO THE SCOLIIDE.

Latreille. Descr. n. sp. Tiphia, in Magas. Encyclopéd. tom. i. p. 25.

Dufour. Recherch. Anatomiques sur les Scolies, in Nouv. Bull. Soc. Philoma

1818.

Klug. Berechtigung von Scolia und Tiphia, in Weber and Mohr's Beitrage zur Naturk, 1805-1810. Ditto, in Ehrenberg. Symb. Phys.

Ditto, (8).

De Romand, in Ann. Soc. Ent. de France, 1835, p. 653. (Epomidiopteron .) Ditto, in Trans. Entomol. Soc. London, vol. ii. Guérin. Prodrome Monogr. Myzine, Extr. Dict. Pittoresq. d'Hist. Nat. tom. v. p. 575. June 1837. · Ditto, Synops. Monogr. Plesia, in Révue Zoologique, tom. i. p. 56.

VOL. II.

Ditto, in Voy. de la Coquille.

P