SOME GRAVE DIGGERS. 117 



We watched patiently but she did not come out, and at the end 

 of half an hour we covered the spot with a glass, first marking 

 the nest by scattering grass seed over it. These seeds had not 

 been disturbed at sunset, and as the nest had been closed at half 

 after two o'clock it was evident that she had finished her day's 

 work at that hour. 



On the following morning we were on hand at an early hour, 

 but nigrescens did not appear until nearly nine o'clock, and 

 then it was only to put her head outside the door for an instant 

 and hastily retreat as though she had forgotten some important 

 part of her toilet. At nine she came to the doorway again and 

 took a survey of the world, turning her head this way and that 

 with an air of elegant leisure. There she stood in placid en- 

 joyment of the morning scene for just half an hour, when she 

 came outside. Fearing to let her go, lest she might not return, 

 we caught her and at once excavated the nest. This consisted 

 of a tortuous passage three and a half inches long, which ended 

 in a pocket. It contained eighteen small beetles, all of which 

 were stiff and dead excepting two. These two were doubtful, 

 since although they gave no response to stimulation, even with 

 alcohol, they were flexible and had a general appearance of life. 

 Three days later these too were stiff. 



These observations were made on the twenty-eighth and 

 twenty-ninth of August. 



Philanthus pnnctatm Say. 



Plate I., fig. 3. 



This is a pretty little yellow banded species much resembling 

 Cerceris in appearance. The nest consists of a main gallery 

 with pockets leading from? it, each pocket being stored with one 

 egg and enough bees toi nourish a single larva. When the wasps 

 emerge from the cocoon they find themselves in the company 

 of their nearest relatives and in possession of a dwelling place, 

 and they all live together for a time before starting out inde- 

 pendently to seek their own fortunes. On the fifth of August 

 we discovered on the island a happy family of this kind, consist- 



