24 
immerse them in strong spirit for a sufficient time to harden 
them; then mount quickly, as most of them when drying 
rapidly retain their shapes fairly well. 
These insects, as stated by Mr. A. Zietz, inhabit (singly) bur- 
rows excavated by themselves in sandy parts of the lake basin. 
They are perfectly circular in form, about three-quarters of an 
inch in diameter, twelve to eighteen inches deep, and at the bot- 
tom somewhat dilated so as to allow the inhabitant to turn round 
easily. Where the sand is dry, 7.¢e., the upper part of the shaft, 
the grains on its surface are securely fixed by some cement. 
Around the mouth a mound, an inch or more, raises the entrance 
by so much above the general surface, and is sloping outwardly. 
The pellets of excavated soil are carried by the insect toa dis- 
tance of six to nine inches from the entrance, and disposed there 
in a regular circle. When a grass stalk is first pushed into the 
hole, the insect comes up to ascertain the cause of disturbance, 
and then withdraws, and will not come up again. When dug 
out, they refuse to fly from their foe, but will resolutely face 
him, whatever way he turn, standing on the defensive, and move 
rather towards him than otherwise. 
