AN ISLAND SETTLEMENT 



reserve of this kind in case of rainy weather, but the 

 forethought implied in such an action seems to require 

 a higher degree of intelligence than can be claimed for 

 her. 



In one nest we found a single fly with a long cylindri- 

 cal egg attached to the left side of the thorax just at the 

 origin of the third leg. In another, which we had seen 

 made and provisioned, we found, six days later, a larva 

 which we judged to be four days old. Assuming that the 

 egg was laid on the first day, it must have taken it about 

 two days to hatch. Other nests gave us larvae in all 

 stages of development, surrounded by the remains of 

 Diptera, among which Syrphus, Tabanus, and Musca 

 were represented. 



In regard to the condition of the flies captured by 

 Bembex, we have never seen the crushing of the thorax, 

 which is noted by both Wesenberg and Fabre. Indeed, 

 the flies that we found were not always dead, since in 

 two instances they responded readily to stimulation. 

 Similar results have been obtained by Mr. S. W. Dun- 

 ning of Hartford, Connecticut. 



Twice we have seen our spinolae, as she was bringing 

 home her prey, alight near the nest and sting it as it was 

 held with the second pair of legs. We could see the pro- 

 cess distinctly, since she is slow and clumsy, and, in jon 



135 



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A 



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