Entomology. 181 



was followed by a small species of Tachina or cuckoo-fly, which 

 despite the energy of the wasp to carry off its prey, managed to 

 deposit its minute eggs in the body of the spider ; it effected this 

 either in hovering in a direct line over the head of the wasp while 

 it was dragging the spider, or keeping within range of its com- 

 pound eyes, and no sooner did the wasp leave it for a short time, 

 than the little fly would return and deposit its eggs. The wasp was 

 instinctively aware of the presence of an enemy, which accounts 

 for the strange erect position in which it sometimes placed itself. 

 Whether this fly is a parasite on the larvas of the wasp, making the 

 spider the means of conveying its eggs to the nest, or on the 

 spider, I am not in possession of facts to shew ; but there is a pro- 

 bability it is the spider, and, that as soon as parasitic larvae make 

 their appearance, the wasp drags the spiders containing them, out 

 of its burrow or nest, to the surface sand where they effect their 

 propagation. 



On the 28th of April, when examining the bark of trees for 

 mining beetles, I came in possession of a cluster of insect's eggs 

 that are new to me. The following description of the form, &c, 

 under the microscope, together with the locality may lead to the 

 discovery of the parent. The number is about fifty, closely ar- 

 ranged in quincunx order. Cup-like in form ; lower part attached 

 to the bark, light brown ; a ring near the margin is dark brown, 

 and the margin white, surrounded with short bristles, of the same 

 color, which give it a star-like appearance. The lid is semi-spheri- 

 cal, whitish on the disk, and surrounded with a dark brown ring. 

 The form of the egg is more oblong than round, and something 

 less than a line in length. They are attached to the interior bark 

 of the maple ; probably they are Coleopterous. " The eggs of 

 insects are very variable in shape ; most perhaps are oval or round ; 

 in some instances they are lenticular, in others somewhat conical ; 

 sometimes they are pediculated. Many when examined through 

 the microscope closely resemble the shelly cases of echini, often 

 called sea-eggs. All insects deposit their eggs upon or near the 

 substances which are to furnish the future caterpillars, grubs, &c, 

 with food. Consequently situations chosen, and the mode in 

 which their safety is secured, are almost as diversified as the species 

 are numerous." 



It is generally the case that students in entomology overlook the 

 small insects, even when they constitute material towards their 

 particular order, under the idea that they are too minute either to 



