54 



THE EEPOET OF THE 



No. 36 



grapple fiercely with it, clasp it tightly to its chest, and then drive its proboscis 

 into its body — the victim soon succumbed. 



While sitting by the pool I learned, with other facts, that wasps resort to the 

 water to drink. I do not think that this should occasion surprise, for the masti- 

 cation of wood pulp, for the construction of their nests, must be thirsty work for 

 the wasps. 



At the edge of the pool some broken pieces of rock had fallen in, and a little 

 water found its way between them. I saw a specimen of Vespa diabolica, Sauss, 

 alight on the edge, walk down to the water, take a drink, and then fly away. Soon 

 a second came to the same spot, and did likewise. Then there was a flash of 

 brighter yellow; and a very bustling object came on the scene, and took the same 

 course. I caught this insect to make sure of its identity — it was Yespa germanica, 

 Fabricius. Soon afterwards a fourth insect, a specimen of Polistes pallipes, St. 

 Farg., came to the same place for refreshment. No doubt all these wasps had nests 

 not far away, and that this drinking-place was one of common resort for them. 



Fig. 2. Water Snails. 



Another species of the wasp that frequented the pool was the Mud Wasp, Pelo- 

 pceus cementarius, Drury. It came to gather material for the construction of its — 

 we may well say — orphanages. These are built of mud, in snug nooks of houses, or 

 other buildings. They consist of cells — each of about the capacity of a pea-nut — 

 closely packed in masses which are smoothed on the outside. Before closing up 

 a cell, the mother wasp fills it with spiders paralyzed by its sting, and drops a soli- 

 tary egg amongst them. The mud castle contains no chamber for its builder — she 

 Boon dies. 



Clinging to the rocky sides and bottom of the pool, I found a number of Water 

 Snails, belonging to the genus Limnsea. Their shells appeared larger than those 

 of Limncea palustris, and not so large as those of Limncea stagnalis. The snail 

 itself was an ungainly object, dull black in colour, and with flat horns, the shape 

 of brush-scythes. These probably aid the creature to steer its course in the water, 

 when it loses its foothold. 



Of Water Beetles three kinds were to be seen in the pool, viz.: — Colymhetes 

 sculptilis, Harris, Dytiscus fasciventris, Say, and Acilius fraternus, Harris. Oyri- 



