IX. AMMOPHILA. 75 
that they construct their burrows in sand alone, and supply 
their larva with Arachnide and the larve of Lepidoptera, 
and select by preference those of the Noctuze, sometimes as 
large as themselves. They sting them towards the middle 
of the body, which renders them torpid, but does not kill 
them, and prevents their motion. The Ammophila then 
extending itself in its whole length upon the larva, seizes 
it with its mandibles near the head, and supports the re- 
mainder of the body with its legs. But thus encumbered it 
can no longer fly; it therefore proceeds but slowly, dragging 
it along. Should it perceive any obstacle in its path, such 
as a stone or tuft of plants, it quits its load an instant and 
springs lightly forward to reconnoiter and explore its way, 
but returns immediately to resume its burden. He re- 
marks having watched a @, thus loaded, clear a wall eight 
or ten feet high, but not without frequent mischances. The 
caterpillar fell several times to the ground, when the 
Ammophila placed it upon a projecting stone to rest itself 
and recruit its own strength; but it renewed its task with 
extraordinary perseverance and succeeded in accomplishing 
it. I can corroborate this interesting anecdote by a similar 
fact,—which I will mention under the A. sabulosa. I have 
never observed these insects convey caterpillars, for when- 
ever I have caught them with their prey it has consisted 
invariably of spiders. 
(a) The petiole of the abdomen two-jointed. 
Sp.1. sapurosa. Lin. 
nigra, hirta, segmento secundo tertioque ferrugineo 9 ¢. 
length 74—11 lines. 
Latr. N. Dict. tom. 1. 450. 
Sphex sabulosa. Lin. F. S. 1648; S. N. 1.941. 1; Villers, 3. 219. 1; 
fab.S.1b.. 3460. lis EB. S. 2. 198. 1; Piez; 205. 1; Panz. 65, 12 ; 
