36 Insect Architecture. 



In the illustration, the left hand figure shows a section of 

 the burrow of Scolia Xantiana, and exhibits the enlarged por- 

 tion of the tunnel in which are placed the young Scolia and 

 the unfortunate grub which has to serve it for food. The 

 insect itself is seen in the centre. 



For figures 3 and 4 the reader is referred to the heading 

 " Spiders." 



There is another British insect which feeds its young with 

 flies, and which catches them in a manner somewhat similar 

 to that which has recently been narrated when treating of 

 the Mellinus. The insect in question is called Oxybelus 

 unuglumis, and is a very pretty species. Its length is sel- 

 dom much more than a quarter of an inch, and its colour is 

 black, with some silvery hair about the face, and with some 

 spots and bands of white, more or less yellowish, upon the 

 pointed abdomen. The male is usually smaller than the 

 female, but compensates for this want of size by his more 

 brilliant colouring. 



Mr. F. Smith has described to me the method employed by 

 this insect in catching flies. In the air it would not have a 

 chance of success, and so it proceeds after a fashion very 

 much like that which is adopted by the hunting-spider. 

 Choosing some spot where flies are likely to settle, such as a 

 bare, sunny bank, the Oxybelus alights upon it and begins to 

 run about without any apparent motive. At first the flies 

 are rather alarmed, but after a while they become accustomed 

 to the rapid movements of their foe, and allow it to come 

 nearer and nearer the cause of its perambulations. As soon 

 as it has succeeded in drawing within a few inches of a fly, 

 the Oxybelus leaps upon it, just like the hunting spider on 

 its prey, and flies off before the victim knows that an attack 

 is even meditated. 



The burrow of this species is made in hard white sand. 



Several species of the genus Cerceris are noted, not only as 

 burrowers, but for the exceeding variety of the food which 

 they store in their dwellings. The most common species, 

 Cerceris arenaria, makes its tunnel in hard, sandy spots, and 

 is usually to be found about the middle of July and August. 



