INSECT INDUSTRY. 



465 



might fall to the bottom. Then she turned again and did the 

 like, repeating this procedure several times in succession. At 

 length no more earth would go down, for the hole was full ; she 

 then rammed it two or three times with her head, and flew 

 away, leaving still, however, the situation of the orifice obvious 

 enough. 



" These insects work very fast in the soft dusty earth, for they 

 are indefatigable in their exertions. The bee is the recognised 

 symbol of industry, but the labour of the bee is play compared 

 with the efforts of the grave-digging Sphex." 



The rare and very remarkable insect which is here shown is 

 a native of South America, and Avas captured by Mr. T. P. G- 

 Smith at Pernambuco. Two specimens, male and female, are in 



Fig. 244. — Stethorectus ingens. 

 (Shining black.) 



the British Museum, and I believe that they are unique. The 

 illustration represents the male. There is a full and detailed 

 description of the insect by Mr. F. Smith, in the " Annals and 

 Magazine of Natural History," vol. xx. p. 394. 



The chief characteristic of this species is the enormous length 

 of the thorax, which is rounded in front and cut off abruptly 



II H 



