456 



INSECTS ABROAD. 



bird," from its great size. The colour of the head, thorax, 

 abdomen, and legs is dead black, with a slight scattering of 

 white like hoar-frost. The wings are also black, and in the 

 upper pair there is a large wjiite spot with a silvery lustre when 

 viewed by a side light. The lower wings are not of so deep a 

 black as the upper pair, and they have no spot. 



The reader will notice the structure of the claws, each of 

 which has a bold tooth-like projection in the midst of the 

 inner side. It has been suggested that this tooth is intended 

 to aid the Mygnimia in catching its prey ; I can, however, 

 scarcely accept this theory, because the Pompilidae do not 

 seize their prey by the claws, but by clasping it in their 

 legs, and so holding it while the sting is brought to bear. The 

 wounded insects are also carried off in the clasped legs, and are 

 never grasped by the claw itself, which is comparatively feeble. 



Another species of the same genus, Mygnimia astasia, lias 

 derived its specific title from its beauty, the name of Aspasia 



Fig. 23 M} u'ninria aspasia. 

 (Black, gloss«l with blue.) 



being that of the very beautiful but not at all moral lady who 

 taught eloquence at Athens and numbered Socrates among her 

 pupils. This species has been found in Dory, Amboyna, Aru, 

 and one or two other localities. 



