io 4 IRambles witb mature Stufcente 



constantly quivering, we may know them at once 

 to be ichneumon flies. They have a strange and 

 cruel habit of laying their eggs in living cater- 

 pillars and chrysalides, and they are ever on the 

 watch to find some unfortunate insect which shall 

 become a receptacle for their progeny. These flies 

 are of all sizes, ranging from a minute creature 

 like a small gnat up to the one figured in the 

 illustration. When we consider that almost every 



RHYSSA PERSUASORIA. 

 (Parasitic upon wood-boring larvae.) 



insect has one (or more) enemy of this kind, we 

 may imagine that ichneumons abound in our 

 gardens, and when once our attention has been 

 called to them, we shall quickly know them by 

 sight. They are peculiarly restless insects, always 

 prying into flowers, and running up and down the 

 leaves in a never-ending search for their prey. 

 They are doubtless of great use in keeping down the 

 hosts of caterpillars that feed upon our vegetables ; 

 and all through the spring and summer months 

 this secret warfare is going on. 



