132 HOMES WITHOUT HANDS. 



In the middle of the illustration another example of a bee- 

 burrower is given, in order to show the manner in which the 

 insect takes its prey into the nest. The technical name of this 

 species is Ampulex compressa, and its nest is stocked with cock- 

 roaches, one of which is being dragged into the hole, wherein 

 it win be shortly eaten by the inhabitant. 



As space is valuable, I will merely give the names of our 

 most conspicuous burrowing bees, together with a brief notice of 

 their habits. 



All the species belonging to the genus Pompilus are burrowers, 

 and stock their nests with spiders. Sandy soils are favoured 

 spots with these bees, some species preferring the dry, hard 

 sand-banks, while others choose soft and loamy sand for the 

 site of their habitation. The Sand Wasps, belonging to the 

 genus Ammophila, are always mighty burrowers, and set about 

 their task with a fiery zeal that never fails to excite the admira- 

 tion of the spectator, their antennse quivering and their wings 

 flirting with excitement. When the burrow is completed, the 

 mother insect flies off in search of a caterpillar or spider, accord- 

 ing to the species, and conveys it to the bottom of the tunnel, 

 where a small chamber is excavated. 



She always enters the burrow backwards, grasping her prey 

 in her jaws and dragging it after her. It is so large that she 

 can scarcely force it along the tunnel, and were it not for the 

 comparatively wide chamber, she would not be able to make her 

 way out again. When she has fairly lodged it in the chamber, 

 she creeps round it, deposits an egg upon it and crawls out 

 again, taking care to stop up the entrance with some small 

 pebbles. She then flies away in search of a fresh victim, and 

 after some four or live caterpillars have been placed in the nest, 

 she closes the entrance carefully, flies off and dies, the great duty 

 of her life being then at an end. 



There is an allied insect residing in India, which measures about 

 three-quarters of an inch in length, and is of a fine polished green 

 colour. Scientifically, it is known as Sphex scutigera. The 

 habits of this insect have been carefully watched by Sir J. Hearsey, 

 ELC.B., who gave me much information respecting the method by 

 which it prepares a habitation for its young. This species preys 

 upon large spiders and cockroaches, and sometimes displays 

 a wonderful amount of ingenuity in achieving its object. 



