228 



TRANSFORMATIONS OF INSECTS. 



The species of the genus OdyneruSy or the False Wasps, are pretty- 

 little black insects banded with yellow tints, and they are most 

 interesting on account of their agility, graceful movements, and 

 singular powers of nest constructing. Odyneriis parietuvi is a 

 well-known species, and some years since our attention was 

 directed to a very curious spectacle, which was observable at a 

 short distance from Denain, in the Department du Nord, early in 

 June. The roadside was bordered by a sandy bank of about 



CcVlOniiS llli^uliris AND rrS NESTS. 



seven feet in height, which encircled a great field of lucern. The 

 hedge or bank was formed of a rather dense soil, and was 

 exposed to the full power of the sun ; thousands and hundreds of 

 thousands of this Odyncms were flying about the field and hunting 

 over and upon the plants with wonderful perseverance. They 

 brought little green larv?e between their mandibles, dug holes in 

 the earth, made little galleries, introduced their prey, and closed 

 up the cells, each one pursuing its particular duty without being 

 in the least disquieted by the thousands that were doing the same 

 thine all around. The liveliness and animation of the scene was 



