95 



Humble-Dees appeared at first to be wanting, but later I saw a few species, but not 

 many individuals of any. One very handsome species was velvety-black with the last 

 two segments of abdomen red. 



I took one specimen of a carpenter-bee (Xylocopa) very like our X. virginica, and 

 two or three examples of a lari^e, stout black Megachile (Lithurgus*?), the only leaf- 

 cutting species almost which I observed. Species of Andrena, Halictus, Prosopis, eLc, 

 were more or less common. 



Wasps were more abundant than bees, and a very large dark Vespa (mandarina ?) 

 abounded both in Yokohama and in the country districts. Its nest was constructed of a 

 coarse, heavy mottled paper made from bark, which I frequently saw the wasps obtaining 

 from a maple tree on the lawn. The nest is of large size, and is built in trees, under the 

 eaves of temples^ etc. I saw two servants destroying a large one which was suspended 

 in a small tree near the gateway of one of the " foreign " houses in Yokohama. One 

 captured the wasps, which having been disturbed were crawling about on the nesbs, by 

 means of a slender bamboo, with rice glue on the tip, and the other knocked theaa off 

 and killed them as captured. When disturbed these wasps buzz around in a very alarm- 

 ing manner, and from their size have a very formidable appearance, but though often 

 threatened I was never stung. A smaller black and white species was also common, but 

 I did not see its nest. 



Polistes were very numerous, and built their small expo.sed combs in the shrubs, 

 especially in the closely-trimmed cedars, which give a good shelter. Fine species of Sphex, 

 Pompilus, Ammophila, etc., were common, as were also Crabronidae, Scoliadse, etc. I only 

 saw one Mutilla, which was captured in a very shady^ corner, near a small shrine embow- 

 ered in camphor trees, and which gave me a shirp sting before I recognizeil what I was 

 catching. The only other sting received while in Japan was from a stout black Scolia 

 which I picked up in one of the temple grounds at Nikko, and almost dropped again. 

 Did these insects think that their cajjture in such sacred precincts was an act of sacrdege 

 de.serving of instant punishment, and " Make the punishment fit the crime?" 



Parasitic hymenoptera seemed to be less numerous than the stingers, and I obtained 

 but few specimens of ichneumons and braconids, although a few fine species of Pimpla, 

 etc., were seen. It was perhaps too late in the summer for these insects, as there seemed 

 to be very few larvse feeding to be attacked by them. In the Ueno National Mu-ieum in 

 Tokio I saw an interesting braconid with an ovipositor about twice as long as thit of our 

 large Thalessa atrator, although the insect was smaller. The insect collection in this 

 museum embraced all orders, but was a small one consisting only of a few cases. 



Chalcids and Proctotrupids were very rare, although I kept a good look out for them, 

 especially when using my sweeping net. One fine species of Smicra was common, especi- 

 ally about shrubs on the lawn and on some of the rows of broomcorn, which are planted 

 on the tnargin of fields, and which sometimes attract many hymenoptera and diptera to 

 feed on their exuding juice. 



Saw-flies were at first abundant, especially when I was in the Hakone district, but it 

 was late in the season for them, and they rapidly disappeared I noted some interesting 

 larvae, especially a large one somewhat like the larva of Oimbex, but having a row of 

 fleshy spines along the back. Gooseberry and rose bushes suffer as they do here, and I 

 saw on willow leaves globular galls of Nematus almost like those seen upon our Canadian 

 trees. Some of the galls also contained, as they do here, inquilinous weevils (a smill 

 black Apion). 



In conclusion, I may say that Spiders were numerous, some of the species being very 

 large and handsome and constructing gigantic webs. Some of the species were also very 

 curious, (^specially those with thin attenuated bodies, in shape like young walking-sticks, 

 and green or black in colour. Ugly looking Centipedes, three or four inches long, occur 

 under rubbish, etc., even entering the houses, and are said to be venemous. 



The observations and collections (not yet mounted or studied) which form the subject 

 of this very hastily prepared, and, therefore, very fragmentary papar, were made between 

 the 12 th of August and the 22nd of October. 



