400 



stance some small dried leaves of the Euphurbia were used, in 

 another the glumes of a grass. Apparently the mud is placed 

 without much ordei within the chamber and there is no definite 

 <'ell wall surrounding the prey and larva of the Silaon. 



In two of the cells the larva had died and the dried up 

 prey remained. This consisted of the nymphs of the Lygaeid 

 bug, Nysius, belonging to an undetermined species. One con- 

 tained 12 nymphs and a small dried up larva of the Silaon. 

 But one of the nymphs had been fed upon. The other con- 

 tained a larger dried up larva and four nymphs, two of which 

 had been fed upon somewhat. 



The other two cells contained a cocoon of the Silaon. 

 These cocoons are nearly elliptical in outline with one end a 

 little larger than the other. The cocoon is earthy, commingled 

 with a little silk and sand grains. They are about 2 nmi. 

 thick by 5 mm. long. 



The nesting place is similar to that described by Xambeau 

 for S. xaniheaui Andre and the cocoon resembles that of that 

 species. S. compeditus of Europe was found by Ferton burrow- 

 ing in the ground and making a series of cells containing 

 nymphs of Lygaeid, Avhile Williams found Silaon inerme 

 (Cresson) in Kansas storing Capsid (Mirid) nymphs In a 

 hole in the ground apparently in a spider's buirow. 



Since the description above was written Dr. F. X. Wil- 

 liams has taken additional material from the Ewa Coral 

 Plain and observed the habits of the species in the field. I 

 am greatly obliged to him for the opportunity to include this 

 material in the type series : (i females, 9 males taken at Sisal, 

 March and April, 1920. 



Type and alloty]ie in the collection of the Hawaiian En- 

 tomological Society. Paratypes in the collection of the Ha- 

 waiian Sugar Planters' Association, and in the private col- 

 lections of Dr. Williams and the author. 



Through the kindness of Dr. Williams I am permitted to 

 use the accompanying figure of the female which is his work. 



