242 MODERN CLASSIFICATION OF INSECTS. 
was extremely abundant in the neighbourhood. (See Vol. I. p. 389.) 
Mr. Kennedy has captured O. bidens with its prey, which consisted 
apparently of a Chrysomelideous larva. He also mentions finding in 
one of its cells a small dipterous tnsect. (Lond. and Ed. Phil. Mag. 
Jan. 1837.) I have described (Gardener's Mag. 1837) a singular 
instance of instinct exhibited by a species of Odynerus, which pro- 
visions its nest with the leaf-rolling larva of Tortrix (Argyrotoza) 
Bergmanniana, which it dislodges by introducing its sting into the 
rolls of the leaves, immediately running to the end of the roll in order 
to ascertain whether the larva was endeavouring to make its escape 
from its unknown enemy. 
In the Insect Architecture (p. 26—29.) is an account of the pro- 
ceedings of a species of Odynerus which forms its burrow in a brick 
wall, and which was infested by a Tachina, which deposited an egg in 
the nest ; and the grub hatched from it, after devouring one of the wasp 
grubs, formed itself into a cocoon, as did the other undevoured grub 
of the wasp —both of which cocoons are presented as of an oval form 
and placed side by side in a large oval flask-like cell. Such habits 
are, however, at variance with the recorded economy of the Odyneri. 
Geoftroy (Hist. Ins. Paris, tom. ii. p. 378. pl. 16. fig. 2.) has de- 
scribed a species of Eumenes (V. coarctata Linn., Panz. (fig. 87. 6.) 
which differs somewhat in its habits from the rest of this family. 
This species constructs, upon the stems of plants, especially heath, 
small spherical nests (fig. 87. 7.) formed of fine earth: at first a hole 
is left at the top, through which the parent fills the cell with honey, 
and deposits a single egg therein; the hole is then closed up, and the 
larva, when hatched, feeds on the honey, undergoes its metamorphosis, 
and makes its escape through a hole which it forms at the side of the 
cell, which contains but a single insect. 
The habits of E. Saundersii Westw. MSS., an Indian species 
allied to E. petiolata, not described by Fabricius, observed by W. W. 
Saunders, differ from those of E. coarctata; this insect making its 
cells of mud, attaching them under projections, each cell being some- 
what smaller than a pigeon’s egg, and sometimes two or three are 
placed side by side ; they are well stored with green caterpillars. Mr. 
Saunders observed the Eumenes repeatedly at work, and found one nest 
in a keyhole, and another beautifully constructed inside an old flute. 
(Trans. Ent. Soc. vol.i. p. 63.) One of these nests produced a 
Pelopaus, evidently a parasite upon the Eumenes. 
