HYMENOPTERA. 



27 



golden-green. It occurs on the shores of the Mediterranean, and is also found 

 in Asia. It is one of the largest of the European forms. Among these, the 

 burnished blue wasp (Chrysis cyanea) is universally distributed throughout the 

 whole of Europe. The females lay their eggs in the larvae of those species of 

 Hymenoptera which make their nests in bramble-stems. The common golden 

 wasp (C. ignita) may be seen flying in search for the larvae of Hymenoptera, 

 whose burrows are made in old posts, walls, sand-pits, and other such places. Of 

 the royal gold-wasp (Hedychrum lucidulum), another of the commoner and more 

 beautiful species, a figure appears in the accompanying illustration. In the same 



1 432 



BURNISHED AND GOLD WASPS. 



1, Golden burnished wasp ; 2, Burnished blue wasp ; 3, Common gold wasp ; 4, Koyal gold wasp, female ; 



5, Brazen-tailed wasp. 



illustration is also shown the brazen-tailed wasp (JSlampua ceneus), of which the 

 female deposits her eggs in the grub of a small species of the Sphegidce. 



THE ANTS, Family 



The ants bring us to the section Aculeata, the members of which differ from 

 the preceding section in that the females are furnished with a retractile sting in 

 place of an ovipositor. As a family, ants are characterised by having the first 

 segment of the abdomen and sometimes also the second reduced in size to form a 

 stalk for the rest of the abdomen. The workers, moreover, are without wings. 

 On account of their remarkable habits and intelligence, these insects demand a 

 fuller notice than is accorded to other groups. As regards their visual powers, 

 ants are very sensitive. While disliking any strong light suddenly thrown into 

 their nests, they prefer rays transmitted through a red medium, but object more 

 to those coming through green and yellow, while those through a violet medium 

 they abhor. Though sight is well developed, hearing seems much less so ; vibra- 

 tions of the air produced by tuning-forks, violin strings, or whistling, being little 

 heeded. Neither has any sound emitted by the ants themselves been detected, 

 even with the most sensitive instruments. The sense of smell is evidently keen, 

 for brushes dipped in scent arouse distinct curiosity. When the scent left in its 

 tract by an ant is obliterated, the ants next following are baffled, like hounds at 

 fault, until, after a little casting about, they pick it up on the other side. In 

 seeking for an object of whose existence and position they are aware, ants make 



