MONOGRAPH OF THE NORTH AMERICAN PROCTOTRYPID^. 29 



pleto traps for various insects, to which Mynnica rubra and other predaceous species 

 resort, and among these our Bethyli will he seen prowling. On the 5th of last June I 

 observed a female of the largest size occupied with one of those larvio which was full 

 fed, and I should think about six times its own weight. It had seized this by the- 

 mouth, and was with great perseverance endeavoring to transport it up the sides of 

 the pit. Perceiving that, though apparently not discouraged after ten minutes' inef- 

 fectual exertion, it had no chance of succeeding, and wishing to trace its proceedings, I 

 placed a fragment of straw in the hollow within its reach. The moment it had touched 

 this railway the state of affairs was changed ; takiug a firm hold with its hind feet, it 

 swung its prey round and set off with it at a smart pace, walking backwards and 

 dragging the body after it. From this time it was constantly endeavoring to ascend 

 the face of the sand cliff, availing itself with admirable adroitness of morsels of 

 grass, twigs, etc., embedded in it, not seeming to care how obliquely they lay, if 

 they enabled it to gain a little elevation ; so that its track was a zigzag. Fre- 

 quently it chose stems, which, rising nearly erect, receded from the bank above. I 

 first thought it was losing its labor, but it was at no loss how to act. After ascend- 

 ing a few inches Avith the whole weight suspended in the air from its mandibles, it 

 would poise itself and its burden across the stem with its head towards the bank, 

 then throw itself off, at the same time extending its wings, which, though incapa- 

 ble of raising it from the ground, were able to give it some impulse toward the 

 bank, on which it thus alighted at a spot someway above the springing of the stem. 

 If, ou asceiuling one of these twigs, it discovered that it was bent the wrong way 

 or receded too far from the cliff, it lost no time in hesitation, but, stopping short, of a 

 sudden commenced the descent again. It may be guessed that, dragging a gross 

 slimy body over twigs, etc., close to or half buried in the sand, frequent impedi- 

 ments would occur, which its extreme activity in walking indifferently sideways 

 or backwards, and main exertion of nuiscnlar force, generally enabled it to over- 

 come; but sometimes it had drawn its burden under or between two twigs, which 

 arrested its course. After a violent tug or two without effect, it would retrace its 

 steps, dragging the larva in the oi)posite direction till it was extricated, disposing 

 it so as to keep clear of obstacles, and start again. Ou every occesion when it had left 

 its hold it made for the same part, and speut some time in fastening its mandibles 

 on the mouth of its prey beneath, so that the larva should be dragged on its back; 

 once where this was not tlie case it was impeded by the latter grappling with its 

 feet the twigs over which it was drawn, and its ca])tor ([uickly finding tlie error, 

 let go anil took a new hold in the usual ]»osition. 



When it ascended al)out two feet, it came upon a fragment of reed partly em- 

 bedded in the sand, the stem of which was broken olF and oj)en below, a few dry 

 elastic shreds <»f the leaf only remaining. Having reached the part where these 

 grew, it by a strong pull drew its burden about half through, till its body was 

 grasped between two of these as iji a vice; then letting go, it began to explore the 

 bank on each side to some distance, tapping with its antenme the conspicuous 

 objects. In a few minutes, seeming to be satisfied, it hastily descended the reed, 

 and entered its stem at the lower end; it did not remain long in the interior, and 

 on its reappearance set off for the spot where it had left tlie larva, which, after 

 pulling it out of the holdfast, it seized by the mouth as usual and began to descend 

 the reed again; it did not complete the journey this time, but taking advantage of 

 the same kind of security to detain its prey, it repeated the reconnaissance, then 

 returning, dragged it to the opening, and leaving it there plunged in itself, but 

 immediately reappearing drew in the larva head foremost, speedily disappearing in 

 the interior; so that I could not observe its sul)seqnent proceedings, and being 

 obliged to turn homewards, I left them undisturbed. I think, however, it will 

 seem probable that the bore of the reed was employed instead of an artificial funnel 

 for the cells which should contain the progeny of the Bethylus, with its store of 

 provision. 



