EAST AFRICAN INSECTS. 1023 



and only a few individnale! would ever recover. For greater 

 effectiveness tlie swnrm would be enclosed as much as possible 

 with matting supported by poles. 



47. Belonogaster giuseus Fabr. (Vespid09 : Diploptera). 

 These wasps, whose paper nests are to be found pendent from the 

 verandah ceiling of most East African houses, were originally 

 inhabitants of caves, I suppose. One day I came upon a huge 

 overhanging i-ock — almost a cavern — fiom whose roof Avere 

 suspended at least thirty large nests of this species ; the half-dozen 

 woikers hanging to each assumed threatening attitudes in 

 characteristic fashion at my approach. On my going still nearer,, 

 one flew off and stung me on the chin— a thing they rarely do in 

 houses, wheie they are more used to human beings. The pain 

 was not very bad, though the resultant swelling caused several 

 kind enquiries as to whether I had toothache. (Mt. Longido, 

 13.ii. 10.) 



In climbing a Flamboyant Tree to reach a dove's nest I had 

 the misfortune to disturb the wasps on a nest below me. The- 

 fiist intimation of this was the receiving of a sting on the calf of my 

 leg, six inches below the knee. I drove the wasp off, but in doing 

 so received another sting on my first finger. The sting on the 

 leg was bleeding, and looked as if a piece the size of a pin's 

 head had been bil.ten out. Putting on my puttees I went off for a 

 four hours' walk, feeling scarcely any inconvenience. On removing 

 the puttees at one o'clock I noticed that the leg had been trying 

 to swell under its wrapping. By 2 p.m. I could scarcely walk, 

 and the limb Avas veiy swollen. At 6 p.m. the poisoned leg 

 measui^ed 14f inches as against the 13f inches circumference of 

 the other. Next morning it was 15 inches. I had no idea that 

 a, wasp's sting could Jiave such bad effects. The finger swelled a 

 little, but this subsided the same day ; it was stiff and a little- 

 .?ore on waking the following morning, but had evidently had 

 a much smaller dose of venom. (Morogoro, 1-5. vi. 17.) 



48. Synagris ^stuans F., subsp. rufa Stadelmann (Eumenidse).. 

 I came across the nest of this species for the first time to-day. It 

 consisted of two mud-cells, roughly 35x20 mm. in length and 

 breadth. These were side by side oh the under surfjice of a leaf 

 and attached to the mid-rib. The leaf measured 700 mm. in 

 length, but by reason of the weight attached, hung vertically.. 

 The lower cell was already sealed ; the wasp was resting in the- 

 upper one with its head outwards, completely closing the entrance ; 

 this was at 4.15 in the afternoon, tlie weather being dull and 

 cloudy. (Kilosa, 25. iii. 22.) 



49. PsAMMOcnARES VENANS Kolil, ? (PompiUdao : Fossoria).. 

 My wife, who Avas preceding me down a rough path, suddenly 

 jumped from her cycle and called me to see "such a large spider 

 being stung by a wasp." As I reached the spot the spider was 

 standing on its anterior legs; it might have had six applied to the- 



