ICHNEUMON MANIFESTATOR, 357 



From Mr. Marsham's account it appears that 

 these insects do not adopt any hole indiscriminately 

 as a situation for their eggs ; for, in many instances, 

 he saw them thrust their antennse into holes and 

 crevices from which they almost immediately with- 

 drew them, and proceeded in search of others. 

 As the whole of the Ichneumons deposit their eggs 

 in the body of some other creature as a nidus, it 

 appears probable that in these instances they found 

 the holes empty, and that they went on in search 

 of those in which the young of the Aps maxillosa 

 were deposited. 



A particular instance of sagacity in one of these 

 little animals is deserving of remark. While it had 

 its tube inserted, the cases were, as usual, pro- 

 jected upwards out of the hole ; and the wind being 

 very powerful rendered it difficult for this deli- 

 cate animal to maintain its situation, as these long 

 cases were so strongly acted upon by the wind as 

 to endanger its being overset several times. To 

 remedv this inconvenience, with a wonderful dex- 

 terity, it brought the cases down between its legs, 

 and projected them forwards under its body to- 

 ward the head ; by which means it retained its situ- 

 ation securely*. 



* Linn. Tran. iii. 23. 



A a3 



