PARTS OF IXSF.CT!?. 25 



receiving and commimicating the impressions of sound, similar to the 

 ear, that deticiency may be supijhcd by extraordinary means of virion. 

 That the stemmata are of this description seems very probable; and 

 the antenna; may, in some degree, answer a similar pnrpose: 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 structiire which distinguishes the real eyes?" 



IVIr. Marsham observed the Iclmciiwon MuniJ'estafor, in June 1787, 

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

 havuig its antenna^ bent in the form of an arch ; and, with a strong 

 vibratory motion in ihem, felt about until it came to a hole made by 

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

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

 ing its antennie 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 hole, and repeated the same operation 

 there. Having now again withdrawn its anteimaj it turned about, and, 

 dexterously measuring a proper disUxncc, threw b;ic.k its abdomen over 

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

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

 drew out the tube, turned round, and again apjilied its antenna- to the 

 hole for nearly the same time as before, and then again in-erted its 

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

 proaching too near, in order if possiijle to obser\'e 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 tlie solid wood with their tubes, which they forced in even to 

 half their length, constantly passing them between the hinder thighs, 

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

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

 surprising to see an instrument, apparently weak and slender, able, 

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

 three-quarters ol' an inch deep ; but, on particular attention, it w-as dis- 

 covered, that all tho'-e 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 by the Apis iim^iUvsa, and where, no 

 doubt, there were young 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 two cases of the tube were ahn 

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

 ■X\yi hole. 



