484 



INSECTS ABROAD. 



edge of each jaw, placed about midway between the base and the 

 tip. When the jaws are closed, the points cross each other 

 boldly, while the two lower teeth are pressed tightly together. 



There are many African species of this extraordinary genus. 

 Synagris mirabilis is a native of Abyssinia, and is a really hand- 

 some insect, its body being black, the end of the abdomen white, 

 and the wings glossed with a shining blue. Synagris ana! is 

 would look exactly like the preceding insect if drawn in plain 

 black and white, but in this species the end of the abdomen is 

 red, and not white. In all these insects the head is large and 

 squared, this structure being needful in order to give support to 

 the powerful muscles which move the enormous jaws. 



The next genus, Monobia, is so called on account of the soli- 

 tary habit of the insects. The name is formed from two Greek 

 words which signify " living alone." 



This genus is in reality little more than a division of the great 

 and intricate genus Odynerus, the systematic entomologists 



having found that genus be- 

 coming unwieldy and capable 

 of subdivision. In all proba- 

 bility, then, the Monobia act as 

 does the Odyneras, i.e., the 

 ^|)A\ ^ij|j\ Jk female digs holes, lays her eggs 



in them, and stores them with 

 caterpillars. 



The species is a North 

 American one, and is rather 

 striking to the eye. The head 

 and thorax are black and pro- 

 fusely punctated, and the abdo- 

 men is also black, but of a 

 velvety texture, owing to the 

 short and thick pile with which it is covered. On the base of 

 the abdomen there is a broad band of bright yellow, and some 

 streaks of the same colour are seen on the thorax. The wings 

 are yellow ami shining. 



On Plate VIII. Fig. 4 is shown the figure of an insect 

 called lihynchivm nitidulvm. Like the last insect, this is 



Fio. 2<i0.- Monobia quatlridi ns 

 (Black and yellow.) 



