a6 Mr. Marsh A mV Objervatiom on 



Tight bordering on fagacity, in finding a fuitable fituation for 

 depofiting its own eggs, and alfo rendering futile and abortive the 

 labour and fagacity of another animal, who, to all appearance, had 

 rendered its oifspring perfeiStly fecure. 



Ichneumon manifestator, Corpore atro immaculato, abdomine 

 "Tah. 4. f, I. feflTili cylindrico, pedibus rufis. 



On the 9th of June 1787, I difcovered this infe£l fetthng on the 

 top of an old port, as I was walking in Kenfington gardens, and its 

 pecuhar appearance and extraordinary actions led me to obierve it 

 attentively. It moved rapidly over the top of the port, having its 

 antennae bent in the form of an arch, and with a ftrong vibratory 

 motion feeling about until it came to a hole made by fome infe6l, into 

 which it thrufl: its antennx quite to the head, fi^. 1. It remained 

 a minute at leaft in this fituation apparently very bufy, and then 

 drawing out its antennae came round to the exa6tly oppofite fide of 

 the hole, again thruft in its antennae, and remained nearly the fame 

 time. It next proceeded to one fide of the hole, repeating the 

 operation, the antennae quivering in a furprifing manner; and 

 having now again drawn out its antennas, turned about, and, dex- 

 teroufly meafuring a proper diftance, threw back its abdomen over 

 the head and thorax, at the fame time projecting its long and de- 

 licate tube into the hole {fig. 3) ; which when it had accomplillied, 

 it brought its body into a dire6l perpendicular fituation, the two 

 {heaths of the tube (landing direflly upright, as did the abdomen, 

 while the tube itfelf proceeded from the anus down the under fide 

 of the abdomen into the hole. After remaining near two minutes 

 in this poflure it drew out the tube, turned round and again applied 

 its antennae to the hole for nearly the fame time as before, and alfo 

 inferted the tube in the fame dexterous way. This operation was 

 I repeated 



