VARIETIES. 



91 



had been removed, and that the moth to which the wasp had 

 flown on its entrance was the only one remaining. The pins 

 and braces had kept the wings in their position, so that the 

 depredation had not been discovered. It was perfectly obvious 

 to me that the same wasp had paid previous visits to the board 

 from the direct course which it took on entering the room, and 

 its at once alighting on its prey. I also witnessed, in many 

 instances, its capture of the common fly. The wasp having 

 seized the fly, generally on the window, almost immediately 

 commenced by biting off" the wings and legs on one side, and 

 then the other, — all the time buzzing against the glass. I 

 have held my hand beneath, and caught the limbs is they were 

 successively detached from the body. Having accomplished 

 the task, the wasp as speedily as possible escaped, and made 

 away direct for the nest. 



A few days since, I observed one of this species on the 

 Golden-rod, in a garden at Blackheath, suspended from a leaf 

 by the claw of one of the posterior tarsi. The other legs and 

 the head appeared actively occupied ; and on closer inspection I 

 observed that the wasp was in possession of a fly, and engaged 

 in the operation of severing the legs and wings, while its own 

 weight was suspended by the claw. On approaching nearer, 

 the marauder flew otf'with his victim. 



I have since witnessed a similar occurrence on the same 

 plant, but the fly taken {Eristalis nemorum) was much larger. 

 The wasp instantly suspended itself, and in less than half a 

 minute had bitten off" not only the legs and wings, but also the 

 head. I captured the wasp as it was taking flight with its 

 prey. A. H. Davis. 



12. Ixodes hexagoniis. — Sir, I have lately taken two 

 specimens of Ixodes hexagonus ; and as, from their peculiar 

 habitat, I should imagine they are not generally known, I 

 subjoin a description of them with a few observations. 



I was examining a hedgehog, and was surprised to find, 

 behind each ear, a large tubercle, as it then appeared to me ; 

 but, on examining more closely, I found they were the para- 

 sites I have mentioned above, firmly fixed by their rostrum, 

 and the abdomen lifted up over the head, so that that was the 

 only part of the animal I at first saw. They were so firmly 

 fixed that I was unable to disengage them without cutting off" 



