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rootlet, fern, or from a species of fine hair-like fungus which 
grows on dead leaves, stems, etc. Some of the nests are ex- 
tremely slender, with more or less vermiform passages and cylin- 
drical cells; others, as in S. melleyi and S. micans var. luzonensis, 
have six-sided cells. The egg is glued to the bottom of the cell 
and the larva fed from time to time with a soft paste whose com- 
position I did not ascertain, but suspect it to be a plant product. 
At least some of the larvae do not form cocoons, and in one case 
the cells are not closed, though far within a tube; the pupa is so 
fashioned here as to exceed the cell opening in dimensions. 
The wasps are eminently lovers of the shady forest, in whose 
uncertain light they frequently escape notice; some have the 
habit of patronizing certain leaves or fine hanging rootlets, upon 
which they alight again and again. The flight is easy, in grace- 
ful jerks, and quite noiseless. 
The Stenogaster are among the most remarkable and _ least 
known of wasps, and their peculiar form, more or less inter- 
mediate position, their love for the forest’s shade and, lastly, 
their beautiful and varied nests, will always make me regret that 
I did not become acquainted with them sooner. 
Stenogaster depressigaster Rohwer. 
Length 15 mm.; very dark brown, with paler markings; pedicel 
very slender. 
Although the shady swimming pool, deeply ensconced between 
high forested banks, was an object of my frequent patronage, 
yet a full year passed before I became aware that its immediate 
region abounded in nests of solitary wasps, several species of 
which did not appear to venture outside these dense woods. A 
radius of 100 feet would include the four species of Stenogaster 
I took in the Philippines. The fine Cerceris angularis here 
mined the vertical bank in an old established colony; the red and 
black Pseudagenia aegina hung her granular cylinder from some 
root, and Eumenes, Sceliphron, Trypoxylon, etc., favored the spot. 
A very peculiar, fragile and exceedingly slender nest suspended 
cmder a bank by one or two aut black horsehair- like threads— 
ay of a roar- 
ing oe cate came to my notice. cies to this frail 
piece of workmanship were two or three very elongate and grace- 
ful little wasps, which at my too near approach took wing and, 
poising in air a few feet away, eyed me, no doubt with nervous 
apprehension. When _ the danger seemed past, they cautiously 
and in characteristic jerky flight approached their domicile and 

