theOeconomy of the Ichneumon Mamfejlalor Linn. 27 



repeated three times ; but approaching too near, in hopes with a 

 {hallow magnifier to oblerve what pafled at the end of the tube, I 

 frightened it away. My curiofity being excited, I waited, but in 

 vain, for the return of the fly, and had it not in my power to vifit 

 the fame fpot for a week ; but on the l6th of the fame month 1 

 was amply gratified, luckily feeing many of them at work. They 

 appeared to pierce the folid wood with their tubes, which they 

 forced in even to half their length, conftantly palling them down 

 the abdomen between the hinder thighs, which clofed and kept 

 them ftraight whenever any over-refiftance forced them to bend. 

 I was fo aftonifhed to fee an inftrument apparently weak and {len- 

 der, able, with the flrength of fo fmall an animal to pierce folid 

 wood 4- or I of an inch deep, that I attended to every motion of 

 the infeft, hoping to difcover in what manner it was done ; and on 

 very particular attention I obferved, that all thofc who appeared to 

 pierce the folid wood, did it through the centre of a fmall white fpot 

 refembling mould or mildew, which on minute examination with a 

 magnifier I' found to be fine white fand, which delicately clofed up 

 a hole made by the ^pis maxillofa, and where I have no doubt the 

 bees' young were depofited. In deep holes that were not clofed, 

 the infedt not only thru{l in the whole tube, but in fome cafes the 

 whole of the abdomen and pofterior legs, leaving out only the two 

 fore-feet and wings, which it placed in contrary direftions like two 

 arms. The grooves which inclofe the tube were alfo projected up 

 the back, with the ends appearing above the head out of the hole. 

 In Oftober I faw another of thefe infefts on a ftrong poft, on 

 LelTnefs Heath, near Erith in Kent. It had fixed its tube before I 

 arrived, and I waited a confiderable time, in hopes it would with- 

 draw it; but a gentleman who was with me being impatient, and 

 doubting my account of it, I with difiiculty forced the infe£l to draw 



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