B E M B I D I I D M B E R B E 11 1 D E 



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Vomitoria). Bembcx tarsata, according to Latreille, 

 selects Bombylii. As each cell is capable of contain- 

 ing five or six dies, the female frequently follows her 

 prey during- the period of deposition of her eggs. 

 Each time she quits her burrow, she shuts up the 

 mouth with sand to prevent the entrance of enemies. 

 Although these insects work singly, and not socially, 

 the same bank generally contains the nests of many 

 females, thirty of the latter having been observed in 

 the space of twenty feet. When a sufficient quan- 

 tity of flies have been collected and imprisoned in 

 the cells at the end of the burrows, the female de- 

 posits a single egg in each cell, carefully closing its 

 mouth ; the grub, when hatched from the egg, de- 

 vours the flies, and then passes into the pupa state, 

 from which it soon afterwards emerges as a perfect 

 insect. Certain species of Chrysidida or golden-tailed 

 flies, including the Pai-nopcx canica, seize the oppor- 

 tunity of the absence of the female beinbex to deposit 

 their eggs in the already-provisioned nests, the spined 

 structure of their legs enabling them to make their 

 way through the entrance. The Parnopes have been 

 observed entering the burrow tail foremost, when it 

 is evident that her object u to deposit her eggs 

 therein. When hatched, the grubs (one only being 

 found in each cell), in the following spring, attack 

 the legitimate inhabitant of the cell, which had at- 

 tained its full size in the autumn, and destroy it. 

 Thus it is throughout nature. The bembex larva; 

 feeds upon flies ; the parnopes larvae devours the 

 bembex larvae. 



One species of this family alone has been intro- 

 duced doubtingly into the British catalogues ; no 

 decided instance of its capture having occurred. It 

 is the Apis rostrata of Liniueus. The family com- 

 prises three genera; namely, Bnnbcx, tongue long, 

 upper lip triangular, palpi short; Mont-dula, tongue 

 long, upper lip triangular, palpi long ; Stizns, tongue 

 short, upper lip short and rounded. 



BEMBIDIID^E (Stephens). A sub-family of 

 coleopterous insects, belonging to the section, and 

 forming portion of the great division constructed 

 upon the Linnaean genus Carabus. Mr. MacLeay 

 united the insects composing the sub-family, but they 

 appear to be at once distinguished from all the other 

 groups of carabideous insects, not only in their struc- 

 ture and diminutive si/.c, but also in their habits. 



They may be characterised by their fore-shanks 

 being furnished with a notch, the elytra rounded at 

 the extremity, the abdomen not attached to the 

 thorax by a footstalk, and the external feelers of the 

 lower jaws terminated by a very minute and acute 

 joint, and the antenna? are ot moderate length. 

 Unlike the majority of the Carabidae, these insects 

 are generally found in damp, low, and marshy situa- 

 tions. They are, for the most part, to be met with 

 under stones, beneath which they hide themselves, 

 most probably because it is in such situations that they 

 meet with their prey ; the structure of the mouth 

 evidently indicating sufficiently predaceous powers. It 

 is supposed that they feed upon still more minute 

 insects than themselves. They are of a very small 

 size, of highly-polished and metallic colours, and 

 often ornamented with :-p<>is of pale colour upon the 

 dark ground-work of their wings. Some of the 

 species, especially those that constitute the restricted 

 genus Bcibidiitm of Latreille, have very much the 

 resemblance of small tiger beetles ; indeed they were 

 placed in the genus Ciccndda by Linnaeus. This 



family is rather extensive, upwards of seventy species 

 being recorded as natives of Great Britain and Ire- 

 land. These have been arranged by Zeigler, Me- 

 gerle, Stephens, Leach, &c., into ten genera : namely, 

 Lymneeuw, 1 species ; Ciltenum, 1 species ; Tachys, 

 8 species ; Pkilochthits, (> species ; Ocys, 3 species ; 

 Pfi-yi>lim, 10 species ; Notap/nui, 9 species ; Lop/ta, 

 1 I species ; Tacliypus, 9 species > Bembidiiim, 4 

 species. These genera, with few exceptions, rest 

 upon minute diH'erenccs in the form of the thorax and 

 other slight characters, which, however, it seems 

 necessary to have recourse to for the purpose of 

 distributing the extensive group into convenient 

 divisions. 



HERB E R I D E M. The Barberry Family. Ana- 

 t in al order of dicotyledonous plants, containing seven 

 known genera and forty-seven species. It is nearly 

 allied to the Menispermaceae, or coculus tribe. The 

 essential characters of the order are: sepals or 

 leaves of the calyx, three, four, or six, deciduous, in 

 a double series, accompanied by scales ; petals hypo- 

 gynous, equal in number with the sepals, and opposite 

 to them ; stamens equal in number to the petals, and 

 opposite to them ; filaments short ; anthers oblong, 

 two-celled, opening by valves ; ovary solitary, one- 

 celled ; style oblique ; stigma orbicular ; fruit, a berry 

 or capsule, containing from one to three seeds. 



The plants in this order are shrubs or herbs with 

 perennial roots, found in temperate and cold climates 

 in both hemispheres. Species have been met with in 

 Europe, Asia, North and South America, but none 

 have as yet been detected in Africa or the South Sea 

 Islands. They are propagated by cuttings, layers, 

 and seeds. Their properties will be best shown by a 

 few examples. 



The chief and most interesting genus is Bcrbcri:;, 

 whence the name of the order has originated. Bcr- 

 bcria rn'i/aris, the common barberry or pepperidge 

 bush, is common in the hedges and woods of Great 

 Britain. It presents a beautiful appearance in spriny, 

 when covered with its yellow clusters of flowers. As 

 the season advances, these are succeeded by bunches 

 of red oblong-shaped berries, which are familiar to 

 all. These berries have a sour taste, owing to the 

 malic acid which they contain. They enter into the 

 composition of various sweetmeats and tarts, and 

 when prepared with sugar they form an excellent 

 jelly. When pickled in vinegar, they are used for 

 garnishing dishes. In consequence of their acidity 

 and ystringency they are refused by birds. They 

 form a grateful cooling drink in fevers, and are said 

 to be useful in biliary fluxes and internal haemor- 

 rhages. The leaves of the barberry are yellowish or 

 bluish-green, ami possess a considerable degree of 

 acidity. The stem and bark are very astringent, and 

 are employed in dyeing ; the root resembles that of 

 the pomegranate : it is bitter and styptic, and is used 

 in Poland for the purpose of imparting a yellow 

 colour to leather. Cows, sheep, and goats eat the 

 plant, while horses refuse it. Varieties are cultivated, 

 with purple, white, yellow, black, and seedless fruit. 



A singular irritability has been observed in the fila- 

 ments of the barberry. If their inner side be touched 

 with a pointed instrument, such as a needle, they 

 immediately contract, move towards the sligma, and 

 scatter the pv>lien if it is ripe. A peculiar fungus 

 also grows on the plant, which is said to be prejudicial 

 to corn growing near it, by causing blight or mildew. 

 (See article 



