PARTS or INSFXTS, 25 



receiving and communicating the impressions of sound, similar to the 

 ear, that deficiency may he supplied hy extraordinar}- means of vision. 

 That the atenniuita arc of this description seems very prohable; and 

 the antenme may, in some degree, answer a similar pm-pose : the cir- 

 cumstance just mentioned, furnishes a strong presumption that they 

 do this, at least in the case of these males; else why do they exhibit 

 that peculiar structure which distinguishes the real eyes?" 



Mr. Marsham obser\ed the Ichneumon Manifestatm; in June 178r, 

 on the top of a post in Kensington Gardens. It moved rapidly along, 

 having its antcnn;e bent in the form of an arch; and, with a strong 

 vibratory motion in them, felt about until it came to a hole made hj 

 some uisect, into which it thrust them quite to the head. It remained 

 about a minute in this situation ajiparently very busy, and then, draw- 

 ing its antennffi out, came round to the opposite side of the hole, and 

 again thrust them in, and remained nearly the same time. It next 

 proceeded to one side of the hule, and repeated the same operation 

 tliere. Having now again withdrawn its antenna it turned about, and, 

 dexterously measuring a proper distance, threw back its abdomen over 

 its head and thorax, and projected the long and delicate tube at its tail 

 into the hole. After remaining near tvvo minutes in this position, it 

 drew out the tube, turned roimd, and again applied its antenna; to the 

 hole for nearly the same time as before, and then again inserted its 

 tube. This operation was repeated three times; but Mr. Marsham aji- 

 proaching too near, in order if possible to observe with a glass what 

 was passing in the tube, he frightened the insect entirely away. 



About a week afterwards ]Mr. Marsham was in Kensington Gardens, 

 and saw several of these ichneumons at work. They appeared to 

 pierce the solid wood with their tubes, which they forced in even to 

 half their length, constantly passing them bet\veen the hinder thighs, 

 which they closed in order to keep the tubes straight, when over re- 

 sistance would otherwise have forced them to bend. It appeared truly 

 surprising to see an instrument, apparently \»-eak and slender, able, 

 with the strength of so small an animal, to pierce solid wood half or 

 tliree-quarters of an inch deep; but, on particular attention, it was dis- 

 covered, that all those that appeared to pierce the solid wood, did it 

 through the centre of a small white spot resembling mold or mildew, 

 which on minute examination was found to be fine white sand, deli- 

 cately closing up a hole made Iiy the Apis muxillosa, and where, no 

 doubt, there were yoimg bees deposited. 



In deep holes that were not closed, the insect not only thrust in the 

 whole tube, but in some cases the whole of the abdomen and posterior 

 legs, leaving out only the two fore feet and wings, which it placed in 

 contrary directions, like arms. The tsvo cases of the tube were also 

 projected up the back, with the ends appearing above the head out of 

 tiie hole. 



