1KJURI0U8 INSECTS, 



167 



internally, maxillary palpi, very small, almost conical, with two articulations. 

 The extremity of the abdomen is provided with a very strong horny ovipositor, 



composed of three threads. Fig. 2, by means of which she deposits her eggs 

 in the crevices of trees and timber. Fig. 3, represents a full-grown larva; 

 these, when hatched, burrow into the wood in various directions; they are 

 fleshy and cylindrical, with a scaly head, six very minute pectoral feet, and 

 a horny joint on the upper extremity of the body. 



There are two species of this fine genus in Britain, namely, S. giyas and 

 S.j'uvencus, both of which we have captured in fir plantations at Claremont, 

 in Surrey. A correspondent of the "Gardeners' Journal," thus describes the 

 operation of our present subject: — "About the last week in May, in 1848, 

 it made its appearance in the village of Whetstone, emerging from a large 

 stick of fir timber, which had been brought from, and had grown upon, 

 Enfield chase. This tree was in some places almost honey-combed with them. 

 In the first week of July, 1 found a female insect in my yard, in Totteridge, 

 busy inserting her eggs into the stem of an American arhorista, which had 

 been cut only a few days; she had evidently been attracted by the peculiar 

 smell. I removed both stick and insect into a spare room, where for three 

 days, she almost unremittingly plied her destructive operations, taking no notice 

 of those who were narrowly watching her movements; when she fell off the 

 piece of wood, she instantly flew to the window, and tried to make her 

 escape, but no sooner was she brought in contact with the piece of wood 

 than she seemed to lose all shyness and all wish to escape, and went on 

 with her work. After walking along the rough bark a little way and feeling 

 with antenna3, she seemed all at once to find a place suitable for her purpose, 

 on which she at once disengaged her ovipositor from a sheath in which she 

 usually carries it, and having firmly fixed her claws in the rough bark, she 

 brought the point of her instrument to the place selected, and this she 

 managed by raising up her abdomen by means of her hind legs; with one 

 of these legs she guided the ovipositor till it was inserted a little way, after 



