492 Description of a new British Wasp, 



together with it, by Mr. Curtis, from some of the sticks 

 that were given to him by my friend Smith. 



To continue the history of the wasp, the sandy lining 

 consists of a succession of cells, each shaped somewhat like, 

 and of about twice the length of, the percussion cap of a 

 fowling-piece, with intervals between them of the eighth of an 

 inch. And, that no trait may be lost in this interesting his- 

 tory, I may here remark, that it was from the external cases 

 that the males were produced, and from the internal ones only, 

 the females ; and, therefore, it is not until the males are de- 

 veloped that the females can obtain egress. In the present 

 state of these cases, after the developement of the insect, they 

 appear to be slightly lined with a silky texture, spun, doubt- 

 lessly, by the larva, when full fed, and prior to its going into 

 a lethargic state ; which, in this insect, seems to precede, by 

 a considerable time, the transformation into the pupa. But, 

 that I may not be suspected of misconception, or hazard pro- 

 ducing it, I will give the dates of the successive observations. 

 September 2. 1836, was when the sticks were brought to 

 town, and a slice taken from the end of one, to ascertain if 

 it were occupied, and the cream-coloured grub was thus ex- 

 posed to view; and upon this grub, which subsequently 

 produced a male insect, the successive observations were 

 made. It appeared at the time full fed, and there was no 

 appearance of any kind of food laid up with it. It distinctly 

 had fourteen segments ; it was footless, and lay in this lethargic 

 state until April 14. 1837 ; when a change appeared to com- 

 mence taking place in it, and the two first segments began to 

 coalesce together, giving an indication of the head of the 

 future insect, upon which the position of the eyes was only 

 shown by being slightly darker than the contiguous parts ; 

 nor was this even perceptible until the two segments had 

 completely united, but after which the eyes began gradually 

 to project. No further change was detected until May 5., 

 when it was observed to be violently struggling with its still 

 concealed limbs, and, by dint of these exertions, it succeeded 

 in freeing itself from its larva exuviae, and at last the hinder 

 legs were seen pushing it from the body ; but, although thus 

 peeled off like a glove, it still remained attached to the ex- 

 tremity of the abdomen. All the limbs now presented them- 

 selves : the legs were drawn up closely to the body, the wings 

 and antennae appearing thick and solid ; and the whole insect 

 was of a beautiful amber colour. On May 24., the eyes 

 changed to a red brown, and a few scattered hairs presented 

 themselves upon the head. On June 7., the whole insect ap- 

 peared to be getting darker, which gradually increased until 



