61 



dense, decumbent, very bright, shining, silvery hairs. 

 Thorax narrow, subvillose, on each side of the breast a 

 bright silvery spot. Squamae black. Wings subhyaline; 

 apex obscure; nerves ferruginous, about half the length of 

 the abdomen. Abdomen clavate ; first segment filiform, 

 black; second segment filiform, reddish; third and fourth 

 reddish, apex of the fourth black; the other segments black 

 with a blue glare. Feet rough with short bristles. Pulvilli 

 elongated, bifid. 



The two species abov6 described wefe taken at Reading in 

 Berkshire, and communicated to us by our friend Mr. 

 James Murray. 



Ammophila pulvillata agrees in many characters with 

 A. argentea of the Rev. W. Kirby's ingenious paper in the 

 Athvol.of Linn. TraJis. p. 208; but its having two segments 

 to the petiole of the abdomen is understood to be a sufficient 

 specific difference, as well as the remarkable length of the 

 pulvilli, and some difference in the general appearance. The 

 vises of these insects, as far as we know, accord with those 

 cf many others of the Hymenopterous order. They arc 

 found to be great enemies to the caterpillars, which, but 

 for these and other means which nature provides, might be 

 more mischievous than they are; and we may one day find 

 out, by knowing the different species, those which are 

 most useful, so as to make ample amends for the trouble 

 of investigation. The great Ray and Mr. Curtis have had 

 opportunities of detecting them in the act of contriving the 

 preservation of their future progeny. They cause the de- 

 struction of caterpillars much larger than themselves, by 

 preparing, at a certain season, a hole in a generally sandy 

 sunny bank, and dragging the caterpillar into the hole, 

 having deposited their egg or eggs in the body of it, that 

 when the egg is hatched there may be a supply of food for 

 the larva, after which they close up the hole, thus burying 

 them alive as food for their progeny. 



