ICHNEUMON MANIFESTATOR, 355 



with the thorax, as in several of the species, by a 

 pedicle. 



The care and attention paid by the whole of the 

 animal creation to the preservation of their offspring, 

 is a subject that has employed the attention and ex- 

 cited the admiration of all ages ; yet there are few- 

 creatures in which these properties are more mani- 

 fest than in this diminutive animal. 



Thomas Marsham, esq. an accurate observer of 

 nature, seems to have been the first who has re- 

 corded this part of the economy of the Ichneumon 

 Manifestator. In the month of June 1787, he 

 observed one of these insects on the top of a post 

 in Kensington Gardens. It moved rapidly along, 

 having its antennae bent in the form of an arch ; 

 and, with a strong vibratory motion in them, felt 

 about until it came to a hole made by some insect, 

 into which it thrust them quite to the head. It re- 

 mained about a minute in this situation apparently 

 very busy, and then, drawing its antenna: out, came 

 round to the opposite side of the hole, and again 

 thrust them in, and remained nearly the same time. 

 It next proceeded to one side of the hole, and re- 

 peated the same operation there. Having now 

 again drawn out its antenna?, it turned about ; 

 and, dexterously measuring a proper distance, 

 threw back its abdomen over its head an i 

 thorax, and projected the long and delicate .tube 

 at its tale into the hole. After remaining near two 

 minutes in this position, it drew out the tube, turned 

 round, and again applied its antenna to the 

 for nearlv the same time as before ; and then ; 



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