found in Virginia and Pennsylvania. 237 



cells, which appear as if channelled ; its thorax is thick, and 

 the abdomen is attached to it by a kind of slender stalk like 

 the petiole of a flower. To this petiole belongs a scutum 

 from which issues a strong hook, very useful to the animal 

 in securing its prey. The sting is not very painful, and the 

 pain of short duration. The wings, (which Linnaeus de- 

 scribes as being brown,) besides being of a fine green, are 

 also blue and brown. The joints of the feet are yellow, and 

 the whole head, body and legs are of a blue colour. The 

 writer of this article has seen some individuals which had 

 yellow spots upon the thorax at the root of the wings. 



The other wasp * (sphex nigra, abdomine petiolato atro t 

 alis subviotaceis, of Linnaeus,) has a large head, a flat and open 

 nose ; the thorax longer in proportion, the petiole of the 

 abdomen vcrv long, it has no hook ; the abdomen is coni 

 cal and or an elegant form. Its colour in general is a deep 

 blue approaching to black, but there are plenty of yellow 

 spots upon the thorax ; the thighs, legs, and feet are also 

 spotted with yellow. Its feelers are longer than those of 

 the preceding one ; it carries them vertically, and crooks 

 them often. 



The cells of both species are built of clay, which the in- 

 sect collects in moist places ; but the appearance and con- 

 struction of these cells are different for each species. 



The blue sphex chooses in the open air the south front of 

 a rock, or trunk of a tree, for its residence. It then seeks 

 its building materials on the bank of some rivulet: it col- 

 lects the clay with its feet ; and after having made as large a 

 ball as it can carry, it begins by laying a slender coating 

 upon the wood or stone. It spreads the clay with its head, 

 and a sharp sound is heard while it is at work. It then flies 

 off for another load, and soon forms the upper extremity of 

 its cell. It then goes on to a second range, working alter- 

 natelv on both sides, and often visiting the interior of the 

 tube, which it renders perfectly close and compact. It thus 

 forms a funnel three or four inches long before attempting 

 to lay up any provisions for its young. 



• Ichneumon wasp of Pennsylvania. .(De (''«■.) 



In 



