samouelle's- 



ignorance of the history of these insects, but which 

 well deserve the attention of naturalists." It is well 

 known that they inhabit sandy districts, and it is 

 probable the females form their nests and deposit 

 their eggs in such situations, which employment 

 would render wings and ocelli of little use ; whereas 

 the males, which may be less numerous than the 

 other sex, are supplied with wings to enable them to 

 go in search of the females, as is frequently the case 

 amongst the Lepidoptcra and other orders." 



Mr. Kirby, on the means of the defence of insects, 

 in a note, observes, " the females of Mutilla cocci/tea 

 L. arc most plentiful in Maryland, in the months of 

 July and August, but are never very numerous. They 

 are very active, and have becu observed to take flies 

 by surprise. A person stung by one of them lost 

 his senses in five minutes, and was so ill for several 

 days that his life was despaired of." 



