122 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



surface. The larva is provided with an apparatus for throwing up the 

 sand, which it can do with sufficient force to scatter it for four or five 

 inches around, and with the rapidity at times of the tick of a watch, 

 working itself downwards as it throws off that above it, the sand flowing 

 in as it deepens, which it jerks up again, the most of which falls outside 

 the range of the pit ; and so continues the operation until the required 

 dimensions are obtained, when it hes perfectly still at the bottom and 

 awaits events. An industrious ant out on a foraging expedition, in the 

 hurry of its eager search runs over the edge of the pit. The lion at the 

 bottom seems to be instantly aware of the fact, and begins throwing up 

 jets of sand with great rapidity, which come showering down, frightening 

 the ant, and it makes frantic efforts to get out ; but the mere vigorously it 

 scrambles for the top, the more rapidly it slides to the bottom, where it is 

 at once seized. The struggle ensuing dislodges the loose sand, and a 

 miniature avalanche pours down from all sides, which materially assists 

 the lion to secure its victim, and the ant is soon taken out of sight. I am 

 not aware that it has any means of enticing its prey, and as it does not go 

 searching for it, but is entirely dependent on what happens to come in its 

 way, I suspect it must have many a long wait between meals. 



The mature insect is neither a rapid nor a graceful flier, but flaps its 

 wings in a heavy, clumsy manner, quite different from what one would 

 expect in so exquisitely delicate a creature. It prefers to alight in an up- 

 right position, and rests with its wings folded close to its sides. 



AN ICHNEUMON PARASITE OF MAMESTRA PICTA. 



BY F. B. CAULFIELD, MONTREAL. 



On July 19th, 1 88 1, a caterpillar of this moth was found on a cauli- 

 flower which had been brought from market, and was placed in a tumbler 

 with some of the leaves. By the 21st it had shrunk considerably in size, 

 and was greatly changed in appearance, the black and yellow markings 

 that make this larva so conspicuous an object having faded to a dull whit- 

 ish color. On the 22nd it was lying on the bottom of the glass and was 

 revolving continuously. Under natural conditions it would, I beheve, 

 have entered the earth to go through its transformations, and the curious 

 revolving motion might perhaps have been for the purpose of forming and 

 smoothing its cell. On looking at it on the morning of the 23rd, a soft 



