Twelfth Report op the State Entomologist 2S1 



dr}' and would come up in quite large pieces holding the chamber?, 

 but they did not appear much above the surface. Mr. H, Van Slyke 

 found on May 15th, tlic chambers very abundant at New Baltimore, dis- 

 tributed over a fifty-acre lot from which the brush and small growth had 

 been burned about three weeks before. Over much of the ground, there 

 were about eigl t to ten to the square foot, while in places, nearly three 

 times as many could be counted in tlie same space. Frequently they 

 crowded one another, and from three to iive had been fastened together 

 in their building. Very few of any height were built erect : most of them 

 curved slightly just above the ground, and in many instances the cavity 

 toward its end was nearly horizontal. They varied in height from i^ to 

 3}^ inches; in breadth from i to i^^ inches; general height 2 inches: 

 diameter inside S/s inch, rarely jX inch. (Pis. X to XIII.)* 



About 80 examples of tliese interesting structures, representing their 

 pecuh'ar forms and varied material, are in the State Collection, from 

 the following localities : 



North Fakins, Knox Co., Missouri; Rahway, N. J.; the following 

 New York localities; Rural Cemetery near Albany, Bathcn-Hudson, 

 New Baltimore, New Scotland, Athens, Poughkeepsie and Nyack. 



In New Jersey they were reported to Dr. Smith from several localities. 

 At Port Elizabeth a recently burned tract of 100 acres was covered 

 with the buildings. They were also found on the Orange Mountains 

 back of Montclair, on tlie Palisades above Ftjrt Lee, at Closter, F)emarest, 

 Cresskill, Englewood and New Durham. 'Phe occurrence of the above- 

 ground chauibers was not reported in Connecticut. 



Construction of the Chambers. 

 The chambers are constructed by the pupae with soft pellets 

 of clay or mud brought up from below and pressed firmly into 

 place. On examination it will be seen that they are well rounded and 

 firmly and rather smoothly compacted within, although the marks 

 of the claws of the pupae are plainly to be seen. Leaves and 

 sticks are often incorporated in the outer portions of the walL. Mr. 

 Lander, of Nyack, has recorded that in one corner of his garden, open 

 towers only of about one inch in height were built witli no attempt at 

 roofing them over. It would be interesting in this case 10 know whether 

 or not the process was suddenly interrupted by some nocturnal prowler 

 devouring the little builders. In this connection may be noted the 



* These plates are views taken for me at this locality through the kindness of Mr. W. W. 

 Byirgton, of Albany 



