1873. 161 



them in flight. Wliite paper attracts them cqxially well ; indeed, all this family 

 are fond of settling npon anything white, S. ichneumoniformis and chrysidiformis 

 being often found settling on bare chalk. The larvae always feed in the smallest 

 stunted plants of the Sea-pink, growing absolutely on or between the crevices of 

 the bare rocks ; and are never found where the food plant grows luxuriantly in 

 ordinary earth. 



S. andrceniformis. — Of this species I believe there are only five specimens known 

 in this country, and it is extremely rare upon the continent. About five years ago 

 I found a larva, wliich at the time I supposed to be that of S. ichneumoniformis, 

 feeding in a dead stem of one of the Centaurece in Greenhithe Chalk-pit ; this died, 

 and I have never taken one like it since. The following season, I found the larvee 

 of ichneumoniformis feeding in Lotus corniculatus at Ventnor ; so the larva taken 

 in Centaurea could not well have belonged to that species, and it may have been 

 that of andrceniformis. I have a very strong suspicion, however, that the latter 

 feeds in dogwood : the first and third known British specimens were taken by Mr. 

 Chant and Mr. Bouchard at G-reenhithe, where that plant is very abundant ; the 

 second was beaten into the net out of that plant by Mr. Thome in Darenth Wood ; 

 the fom-th by Mr. Benjamin Standish in the chalk-hole near the Fox and Hounds 

 at Darenth ; and the fifth by the Rev. A. H. Wratislaw hovering over the same 

 plant. This species, like the others, is, doubtless, an internal feeder, and to discover 

 it, I would recommend the plan hereafter mentioned. Internal feeders, as is well 

 known, prepare a way of escape, a few days before changing to pupa, by gnawing 

 nearly to the surface, but never touching the outer bark, which is about the thickness 

 of writing paper in young trees, and through which, when about to emerge, they force 

 their way, projecting nearly half-way out : this is only done an hovu' or an hour and 

 a-half before the perfect insect emerges ; and, immediately after it creeps or rather 

 jumps out of the pupa-case, it runs back to the tree to crawl up and dry its wings, 

 an operation accomplished in less than two minutes on a hot morning, so there is 

 but a vciy poor chance of finding tenanted pupse projectmg from the tree. In order 

 to discover if a small tree contains a pupa (a difficult task, as there are no traces 

 outside), I have found it best to take the tree in my hand and gently bend it on all 

 sides, watching carefully for the first crack in the bark, as the indication of the 

 presence of a tenant, of wliich more certainty is obtained by gently raising the bark 

 at the place with a penknife. If there is a round hole, it is almost sure to contain a 

 Sesia pupa, and the way to get it out is to saw the tree down to the ground, being 

 careful to cut low enough or the pupa will drop below the incision, and be left 

 behind. I have been served this unpleasant trick, so think it as well to warn others 

 of the danger. 



As to S. scoliiformis, I can give no fresh information, as on my only visit (in 

 July, 1867) to the locality (Bryn Hyfred, near Yallo Crucls Abbey, Llangollen) 

 where it used to occur, I could find no recent trace of its existence. 



S. sphegiformis is to be found in the alder, by working in the manner above 

 described. I have taken it, commonly, in Tilgato Forest. The moth usually appears 

 about the second week in June ; but much depends upon the weather. 



S. asiliformis I believe will bo found, if sought for carefully in the same way, 

 in the stems of black poplar. 



