166 HOMES WITHOUT HANDS. 



tained a faint scent of eau de Cologne. Now, if the assailants had 

 been Wasps instead of bees, a by-stander would assuredly have 

 considered the attack as a proof of the malignant nature of the 

 Wasp. 



Before taking leave of the earth-burrowing hymenoptera, it 

 will be necessary to mention two very remarkable insects which 

 are described by Mr. Bates, in his well-known " Naturalist in the 

 River Amazon." Neither of the insects have any popular name. 



The first is called Monedula signata, and is a handsome-looking 

 insect, very much resembling an ordinary wasp, and ornamented, 

 like that insect, with bold black marks on the thorax and abdo- 

 men. The antennce, however, are twisted, and at once prove that 

 the creature is but distantly related to the true wasp. The bur- 

 rows of this insect seem to be made only in the sand-banks which 

 project above the surface of the river; so that they would not be 

 discovered by ordinary travelers. Fortunately for the residents 

 in that part of the country, the Monedula stores its nest with one 

 of the most obnoxious insects that haunt the Amazon River. 

 This is the Motuca fly (Hadaas lepidotus), an insignificant-looking 

 creature, smaller than an ordinary house-fly, and of a bronze-black 

 color, with the wings of an ashy brown, except a whitish spot near 

 the tips. 



This fly belongs to the well-known family of Tabanidte, and, 

 like them, is furnished with a very formidable apparatus, by 

 means of which it obtains its food. Whenever the Motuca can 

 attack a human being, it dashes at him, settles, and in a moment 

 drives a broad, sharp-edged lancet through the skin, cutting quite 

 a gash, and causing the blood to flow fast. Fortunately, the 

 wound is not very painful, and it is possible that the flowing 

 blood may be useful in washing out any poison that has been in- 

 jected. It is of a sluggish nature, and can be easily taken with 

 the fingers — a very happy circumstance, inasmuch as a dozen 

 Motuca flies may be seen clustering upon the ankle, just above 

 the shoe. 



The Monedula destroys multitudes of the Motuca flies, and will 

 travel for half a mile in order to procure its prey, always taking 

 care to close the entrance of its burrow, and to reopen it on its 

 return. Mr. Bates mentions that he has been frequently indebted 

 to the Monedula for saving him from sundry gashes from the 

 Motuca; and that the Monedula would charge straight toward 



