262 THE FOSSORIA. 



the fourth segments of the abdomen are red. The 

 wings are transparent^ with the nervures blackish. 

 It may be found abundantly in the same sandy situ- 

 ations as the Pompilus fuscus, disporting itself in the 

 bright sunshine with a light and graceful flight, but 

 settling frequently on the sand with a \dew to the 

 more important business of its existence, that of pro- 

 viding a habitation and a supply of provisions for its 

 young. For the former purpose the Ammophila digs a 

 deep burrow in the sandy soil, sometimes perpendicu- 

 larly in the level ground, and sometimes horizontally 

 into the face of a sand-bank. In either case, however, 

 the earth seems to be removed in the same way, by 

 scratching, like a dog, with the fore-feet, the tibise of 

 which are furnished with spines to render them more 

 efficient instruments in this operation, during which 

 the female maintains a continual loud buzzing, al- 

 though at other times her motions are perfectly 

 noiseless. Mr. Westwood states that the female uses 

 her jaws in burrowing, coming out with them loaded 

 with earth, flying about a foot from the mouth of her 

 burrow, and then by a sudden turn scattering the 

 materials she has brought up to a distance of about 

 six inches. The labour of excavation accomplished, 

 the next business of the indefatigable mother is to 

 store it well with food appropriate to the wants of 

 her larvae ; this consists of caterpillars. The vic- 

 tims when seized upon are slightly stung, an operation 

 which appears to benumb their faculties without 

 actually killing them, .so that the larvse are ensured a 

 supply of fresh meat whenever they are ready for its 

 consumption. But the greatest labour still remains : 

 the victims are of course often to be found only at 

 some distance from the dungeon in which they are to 



