214 



STRANGE DWELLINGS. 



known to entomologists by the name of Trypoxyloii aurifrons^ 

 but has at present no popular name. 



This insect makes a great number of earthen cells, shaped 

 something like those of the last-mentioned species; the cells 

 being remarkable for the form of the entrance, which is 

 narrowed and rounded as shown in the figure. In some cases 

 the neck is so very narrow in proportion to the size of the cell, 

 and the rim is so neatly turned over, that the observer is irre- 



TRYPOXYI.ON AND PELOP^US. 



sistibly reminded of the neck of a glass bottle. The insect 

 makes quite a number of these nests, sometimes fastening them 

 to branches, as shown in the illustration, but as frequently fixing 

 them to beams of houses. It has a great fancy for the corners 

 of verandahs, and builds therein whole rows of cells, buzzing 

 loudly the while, and attracting attention by the noise which 

 it makes. 



The lower insect is the pretty PelopcBiis fistularis^ with its 



