INTRODUCTION. XXV 



pleted in the year. I am sure that the females of certain kinds hibernate 

 after copulation, and that certain kinds do not, />., when we come to know 

 them more thoroughly we shall find that at least the majority of species 

 have certain times of appearance, though doubtless a few are nearly always 

 abroad during the summer months. No male has ever yet been known to 

 hibernate. In confinement, however, their life is of short duration. 

 Listrodroiiius uyctJiemerus left its host's pupa at 5-40 p.m., on 23rd May, 

 and died during the night of the 27th, or a little over five days ; Ichneumon 

 delirarorius, forced to an unnaturally early emergence in February, lived 

 three days in a warm room ; a male Mesostenus obnoxius emerged on 27th 

 May and died late on 30th ; a female of the same species emerged from 

 pupa at midnight of 28th, appeared to be in incessant motion till the 2nd 

 June, late on which day it died, or five days ; another male lived six days, 

 from 15th to 2ist May. The Anomalous ajipear to have a somewhat longer 

 span, since I have noted that captured specimens lived six days or seven 

 days in a very confined space. 



The collecting of these interesting, and often handsome, insects is one of 

 the easiest points in their study. Like the Coleoptera, they may be found 

 always, and in the summer everywhere. In the spring, the hibernated 

 females may often be beaten from fir trees, as well as seen upon the black- 

 thorn bushes. When the buds of the oak are but beginning to burst many 

 rare species have been taken by Mr. Bignell, who also boxed, upon the 

 fully-expanded leaves of a solitary beech, about six feet high, some eighty 

 specimens during a dull day. In bright weather, however, large numbers 

 may be obtained by simply swinging a net to and fro through the air. 

 The majority of captures at this time of year will be found to belong to the 

 Tryphoninae, which are especially abundant in the vicinity of hazel bushes. 

 A very effective trap is constructed in a favourable locality by glass affixed 

 to and sloping slightly downwards from an ordinary wall. The insects, 

 on rising to surmount the wall, are caught in the angle formed by the glass 

 and the wall, where, since it is contrary to their instinct to fly downwards, 

 they are held prisoners. In this way, Mr. Adams takes large numbers at 

 Lyndhurst. These insects are marvellously agile, and when caught in a 

 net the majority will at once take to flight upon the least opportunity, 

 often darting straight from its bottom upwards ; many have an aggravating 

 habit of settling just for long enough to give one a fleeting glance and then 

 flashing away at full speed. Cryptinae, however, more generally seek to 

 hide themselves at the bottom, among the debris. With the exception of 

 the genus Anomalon and its immediate allies, these insects never attack 

 one another and, consequently, any number may be brought home alive 

 in a single box ; it is, moreover, extremely rarely that one discovers a 

 mutilated specimen, and I have only once captured such a one, though 

 those with the wings externally tattered are not uncommon in worn 

 exam{)les. They are hardly ever to be met with after the sun sinks low 

 and begins to lose its power, and must then be sought at the roots of 

 the herbage ; there are fewer abroad in the morning than in the afternoon, 

 though, perhaps, the percentage of females is then greater, at all events 

 upon flowens. Trampled and bruised grass has been stated to have 

 peculiar attractions for them ; and many kinds of Ophioninae, including 

 the big red 0/>/iion luteiis, so familiar to all, are freely attracted by artificial 

 light and by "sugar." I'.erthoumieu tells us they hide away among low 

 herbage during very hot weather, whence they are forced by the dampness 



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