ZOOLOGY. 217 



3. Sirex. Mouth furnished with two strong jaws ; feelers 



two, truncated ; antennce filiform, with more than 

 twenty-four joints; piercer exerted, stiff, serrated ; 

 abdomen sessile, pointed ; icings lanceolate, flat, the 

 lower pair shorter. 



4. Ichneumon. Mouth with jaws ; tongue wanting ; antcn- 



nce setaceous, with more than thirty joints ; abdomen 

 sessile : piercer with Ji cylindrical exerted bivalve sheath. 



All these animals deposit their eggs in the bodies of living 

 Insects; the larvae feeding on the juices of the unfortunate 

 animals, but not affecting the vital parts, so that they are con- 

 stantly supplied with proper nutriment ; generally turning 

 into the Chrysalis state, previous to the death of the insect 

 on which they were hatched. 



5. Sphex, Mouth with jaws ; tongue wanting ; antennce 



often joints; wings flat, incumbent, not plaited, (in 

 each sex;) sting venomous, concealed in the abdomen. 



The females of the last genus deposit their eggs in (he 

 bodies of living animals ; by this, the eggs are deposited in 

 the bodies of dead ones; by means of their sting they over- 

 come insects otherwise too large for them to master ; they 

 are very savage and rapacious, preying on any insects that are 

 so unfortunate as to come in their way; the larvai is footless, 

 and the pupa possesses the rudiments of wings. 



6. Chri/sis. Mouth w ith jaws ; aiitcnnce filiform with tlio 

 first joint lengthened, the remaining eleven, short; fig. 



