18 



tino- her wings. At nine in the evening, or twenty-eight hours 

 after decapitation, she had Men on her side, with the wings 

 feebly opening and shutting. At ten o'clock the next morning, 

 or forty-one hours after decapitation, she was still alive, moving 

 her legs, and thrusting out her sting when touched. 



Pelopoeus coeruleus (Linn.). A female which had been de- 

 antennized was soon after beheaded (at twenty minutes past 

 two in the afternoon). She continued to sting vigorously, and 

 buzzed as if in pain. At half past nine in the evening she was 

 still alive, opening and shutting her wings, but was less lively 

 than was a female Polistes pallipes, beheaded at the same time. 

 The Pelopoeus died the next morning. 



Ichneiwion otiosus Say, or an allied species. On decapitation 

 it remained very lively, cleaned its wings and legs, the poAver 

 of co-ordination in its wings and legs remaining. It did not 

 walk, since the eyes and antennse had been removed. The 

 next morning it was partially benumbed by the cold, but be- 

 came more lively upon being warmed by the sun. It died at 

 about six in the afternoon, having lived from twenty-five to 

 twenty-seven hours. Another species of Ichneumon lived from 

 twenty-four to thirty-six hours after decapitation. 



Blusca domestica Linn. A female beheaded at eight in the 

 evening flew about in a tumbler and finally out of it, being 

 very lively. She was alive and vigorous at seven o'clock the 

 next morning, cleaning her fore-legs, but not flying when 

 touched. She Avas lively and flying about at half past nine in 

 the evening, but died about eight o'clock the next morning. 



The abdomen was removed from another female at eight in 

 the evening. She flew about within the glass in a lively and 

 natural way, rubbing her face with her fore-legs for half an 

 hour after the operation, and seemed much more lively than 

 her headless sister, who remained still at the bottom of the 

 tumbler. She was lively at ten in the evening, but was found 

 dead at seven o'clock the next morning. 



Agrotis subgothica Haw. One was beheaded at forty min- 

 utes past nine in the evening. It was lively at the night of the 

 fourth day, flying about when disturbed, but at seven in the 



