109 



Perisemus is thus an instance of a Proctotrypide ^) the 

 instinct of which approaches to that of the food-collecting 

 wasps, in having learned to carry the prey which is the 

 appointed food for its larvæ, to a place, where these may 

 be safe during their growth, and in being able to prevent 

 the large caterpillar in offering resistance to the transport. 



In other respects Periserrms showed that it was on a 

 more primitive standpoint than the proper fossorial wasps. 

 It had thus no instinct of nestbuilding at all. The 

 caterpillars were lying free in the burrow whithout being 

 separated from each other by means of partitions, whereas 

 all fossorial wasps living in stalks, are building cells. It 

 differs also from the fossorial wasps in laying several eggs 

 on each caterpillar which is quite common with the 

 j)arasitic wasps. 



^) There may, however, be some doubt if the right systematic place 

 of Perinemus is within the Proctotrijpidæ. 



