VOL XLVI.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. CQQ 



An Inquiry into the Original State and Properties of Spar, and Sparry Pro- 

 ductions, particularly the Spars, or Crystals found in the Cornish Mines, called 

 Cornish Diamonds. By the Rev. Mr. fVm. Borlace.* N° 493, p. 250. 



In the present advanced state of mineralogy, this paper is not deemed suffi- 

 ciently interesting for republication. 



Of the Great Black ffasp, •\- from Pennsylvania. By Mr. John Bartram. 



N° 493, p. 278. 



You will see by the specimen, fig. 9, pi. 12, the size of this great black wasp, 

 it supplies itself with food, by roving about the meadows, catching grashoppers, 

 and other insects, on these it feeds, and not on fruits, as other wasps do. But 

 what is more remarkable, is the method of making their nests, and providing 

 for their young. With great pains and industry they scratch a horizontal hole, 

 near an inch diameter, and a foot long, in the steep side of a bank of loamy 

 earth ; then away the wasp flies, and catches a large green grashopper, and lodges 

 it in the farther end of her nest; she then lays an egg, and goes and catches 2 

 more, and deposits them with the other, then plasters up the hole. The egg 

 soon produces a maggot. These grashoppers, by marvellous instinct, are pro- 

 vided for its food, till it changes into its nymph state, in which it lies for a cer- 

 tain period, and then eats its way out, and flies away, seeking its mate. 



But what may deserve further attention, is the wonderful sagacity of this crea- 

 ture, not only in catching these large grashoppers, which are very like ours, and 

 are very strong and nimble, as most may have observed that take them up ; but 

 their peculiar skill is to be admired in disabling them, either by bite or sting, so 

 as not to kill them ; for then they would soon putrefy, and be unfit for nourish- 

 ment. Life sufficient is left to preserve them for the time the maggot is to feed 

 on them. 



An Observation of an Eclipse of the Moon, Dec. 12, 174g, made at Earith, 

 near St. Ives, in Huntingdonshire. By Mr. Wm. Elstobb, Jun. N° 493, p. 280. 



At 7"^ O™ the shadow or eclipse began. 

 9 16. . the same ended. 



A Catalogue of the Immersions and Emersions of the Satellites of Jupiter, for 

 the Year 1751. Computed to the Meridian of London from the Flamsteedian 

 Tables. Corrected by James Hodgson, F. R. S. &c. N° 493, p. 282. 



Omitted as useless now for the same reason as formerly given. 



• Rector of St. Just, f. r.s. and author of Antiquities and Natural History of Cornwall. He also 

 wrote Obseivations en the Scilly Islands. He possessed a good collection of minerals, and died in 

 \77'2, aged 76. 



+ This insect belongs to the Linneaii genus sphex. 



