FROM THE NORTH-WEST PROVINCES OF INDIA. 176 
queen had been captured, they continued to build cells and repair the injuries done, 
very neatly uniting the broken bit of covering paper which had been left. 
These wasps were often to be seen in flowers on the hill-side, and they appeared to 
feed freely on fruit and on insects found on the pollen of flowers. 
The construction of the pillars of the nest was very neat, light and at the same time 
strong. No clay would appear to be used in the making of the cells, which were of 
regular waste-paper, the structure of which is of vegetable fibre. 
I took many specimens from a nest in a bank on the footpath which led to the top 
of the mountain. At first they were very quiet ; but after a day or two, directly any one 
approached they would fly at him if he stood but a moment near to the mouth of their 
nest. ‘Their instinct of memory is most strange. Their stings are irritating, but not in 
any way dangerous to man, although it was by wasps of this species that a full-grown 
sheep belonging to a resident of Ranee Khet, near Almorah, was killed. The animal 
had doubtless trodden on an entrance to a nest, or pulled up some plant in feeding, 
and so disturbed them. 
I had proposed to append a few notes relative to the parasites of these insects; but 
on second thought, I have briefly alluded to each in my notes on the species it affects. 
The genus Chrysis is largely represented; and there appears to be one of suitable size 
for each species of hymenopterous insect, so as to fit the cells. 
Fam. APIDZ. 
LiTHURGUS DENTIPES, Smith. 
This insect in general appearance much resembles a Megachile; but its coloration is 
quite distinct. Its habits, however, are very similar, although the clay would seem to 
be in general worked smoother. A favourite position for placing cells is the gallery 
formed by the grub of some longicorn beetle in timber. In one case there were two 
entrances; and in consequence some of the cells had been constructed to face one way, 
and some the other, thus providing for the more comfortable exit of the perfect insect. 
When considering the working of the cells of these insects, it is necessary to bear in 
mind the position in which they are placed: e.g. in case no. 12 the spirally twisted series 
is quite as rough exteriorly as those of I. /anata, whilst in cases 1 and 2, being pressed 
for room, the work necessarily appears smoother. 
This insect seldom builds mud-daubs on the walls, and generally takes ready-made 
hollows for its building-purposes, although I have seen them working under the seat of 
a chair and on a rough part of a wall. 
In all its habits it resembles IZ. Janata, and therefore no more remarks upon it will 
be called for. 
