ig 
ferus nests also in colonial style, in cultivated areas, and digs 
deep burrows, but away from the homes of men; a_ wary 
coal-black species was seen digging her ten-inch-long burrow in 
bare cultivated ground and storing brown tree-crickets (Mnesi- 
bulus bicolor Haan) ; in the shade of the forest a smaller red 
and black Chlorion was found nesting in a hole in a decayed 
log; a slenderer wasp of the Isodontia group, provided with 
slim mandibles, and legs unfitted for digging, was observed gath- 
ering tomentum or w ool- like material from the underside ‘of a 
green leaf, and she evidently makes use of some pre-existing 
hollow as a nesting place, dividing off cells therein with the 
material gathered. This is in keeping with the habits of the 
American /sodontia philadelphica and elegans, the former using 
the modified leaves or “pitchers” of Sarracenia flava (Pitcher 
Plant), which she partitions with moss, the latter wasp (David- 
son, 1899) using the stems of White Sage (Audibertia poly- 
stacha) and div iding the hollow with ADrOu ae Both store 
tree-crickets MOecaniinis sp.). J. elegans has also been found by 
S. A. Johnson (Fernald. 1907) nesting in burrows made by the 
bee, Anthophora occidentalis, and Rau iS Rau (1918) have found 
Chlorion (Isodontia) elegans using an old Carpenter-bee tunnel. 
CG. ale Tebacius a large brilliant metallic blue species 
of India, 1s, according to Dutt (1912), put to ornamental use-- Ele 
Saysp.czo In Bengal attics make a charming use of the de- 
lightfully brilliant skin of this w asp. Circular discs neatly cut 
out of its body are fixed in the center of the forehead by the way 
of ornamental decoration. The wasp is known there by the popu- 
lar name of Kauch poka, or the Golden Insect.” 
A feature especially applicable to the Sphecinae is the squeaky 
little buzz they emit while at work. Most observers interpret 
this sound as one of pleasure, but Latter (1913), speaking of 
Ammophila sabulosa, says that “She kept up an angry, rasping 
buzz which effectively scared away a fly of parasitic (cuckoo ) 
habit. * * * T have little doubt that the noise serves to 
warn off intruders on mischief bent.” Who knows! 
Chalybion violaceum (Fabricius). 
Length 17 mm.; slender; iridescent blue. 
This brilliant and common household insect can hardly be 
said to construct mud cells, as in the blue American species; she 
is a poor architect that stores her small spiders in some con- 
venient hollow, as a rung socket, penholder base, old mud- ee 
nest, etc., and simply plugs up the aperture, first with mud ¢ 
