326 MR. H. L. BOTH ON THE HABITS OF 



Metathorax very strongly keeled behind ; sides orange, with a 

 very strong obtuse projection. Basal segment of abdomen black 

 at the base, red ia the middle, and orange behind, the two latter 

 colours not very sharply defined ; a dusky line on the middle 

 above, and a short dusky dash on each side above, near the ex- 

 tremity ; the reddish-orange border of the second segment with a 

 small black line in front in the middle, and a slight dusky mark 

 on each side above ; the borders of the remaining segnients 

 rather more extended than in the female, especially on the under 

 surface. Subcostal nervure of wings not blackish, and tips of the 

 wings less dusky than in the female. 



E-esembles Mhynchium mirahile and R. superhum, Sauss., but 

 dijffers from both in the colour and shape of the clypeus. An un- 

 named specimen from Torres Straits, in the British Museum, 

 appears to be a slight variety of the female, differing from Mr. 

 E-oth's specimen by its darker legs, and in some minute details of 

 coloration on the head and abdomen. — W. F. K.] 



The specimens herewith are, I believe, generally supposed to 

 be distinct species, but as I have found them in the same nests, 

 I am inclined to think that they are simply male nnd female. I 

 believe these insects build nests like those of Pelopceus Imtus 

 (see fig. 1, p. 319). The cell is provided with a brown silky lining, 

 in which the larva becomes developed. When the larva has shed 

 its skin, the wings develop first, the eyes then gradually turn black, 

 the abdominal bands turn dark as well as the thorax ; finally, 

 the legs and antennae become more defined, and the insect 

 emerges fully developed. 



Odtneeus bicoloe, Sauss. 



These insects make use of forsaken nests of Pelojocsus Icetus, 

 Sm. 



Vespid^. 



PoLisTES Beenaedii, Le Guillon. 



These wasps build paper-like nests, suspended by a black stalk, 

 and without any envelope. They feed their larvsB with a peculiar 

 light yellow substance, which they collect in large lumps. A 

 wasp, on arriving at the nest, shares this with the other wasps, 

 who immediately set to work to feed their progeny. It is very 

 droll to see the larvae put forth their heads and greedily devour 

 the food offered them. 



