THE CRABRONIDiE. 181 



has large falcated mandibles. The universal Sphex appears 

 to contain a second very distinct type, and is connected 

 with AtnmophUa by means of the singular and apparently 

 rare American Trigonopsis, named from its triangular 

 and protruded head. Both sections o? Ammophila are of 

 extensive distribution ; and Pelopceus, also, has a wide 

 geographical range : this genus forms clusters of cells 

 of mud against walls, and beneath the eaves of houses, 

 and has thence, in America, been called the mud-chick. 

 The next family, the Bembecidce, are remarkable for the 

 anal denticulations of the males; and the venter beneath 

 in this sex has frequently a large curved tooth, and some 

 oneor other of the apical joints of their antenuiEarehooked. 

 It is upon species of these insects that Parnopes of the 

 Chrysididce is parasitical, and which offers the remarkable 

 circumstance of an elongated proboscis, thus resembling 

 the insect upon which it is parasitical. In several of the 

 genera of the Larridce, we observe the two posterior of 

 the three usual stemmata becoming obsolete. Mono- 

 matium presents us with a petiolated submarginal cell ; 

 in Dicranorhina we observe the abdomen pedunculated. 

 The excessively active and numerous genus Tachytes is 

 found every where but in New Holland, where it seems 

 to be supplanted by Pison, which has reniform eyes. 

 In the CrabronideB we are acquainted with several yet 

 undescribed forms, for instance, Spalagia, closely allied 

 to Nysson; Sericophorus to Oxybelus; Nephi-itomma 

 to Trypoxylon; Megalommus to Gorytes ; Miscothyris 

 connecting the latter with Alyson; and Aspidion, appa- 

 rently intervening between Gorytes and Philanthus. An 

 observation or two upon the latter and Cerceris will 

 close our rapid survey of the fossorial Hymenoptera. The 

 former, although of general distribution, appears to 

 have its metropolis in Africa; as far as it habits are 

 known, it has been observed to prey upon the genus 

 Apis. The gay Cerceris is, perhaps, of more extensive 

 distribution than Philanthus, and certainly extends fur- 

 ther nortli ; and the food it stores up as provision for its 

 young consists of small Cumdios. 



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