270 HOMES WITHOUT HANDS. 



be so different from the usual custom, and the more so that 

 a closely allied species, inhabiting the same country, and which 

 possibly belongs to the same genus, makes its nest in trees 

 according to the ordinary type, and places its combs within the 

 hollows of decaying trees. The honey of this bee is described as 

 being very sweet and richly flavoured, so richly in fact, that very 

 little of it can be taken. 



A CREATURE is upon our list of pensile insects, which may also 

 be reckoned among the social or parasitic insects, but which 

 makes its habitation in such a manner that its proper place is 

 among the pensiles. This is the pretty little ichneumon which 

 is known to entomologists as Microgaster alvearius. The name 

 Microgaster is of Greek origin and signifies 'little belly,' this 

 being a very appropriate name for this insect, whose abdomen 

 is of very small dimensions, and indeed appears to be just a 

 little supplementary growth which might be removed without 

 causing any inconvenience to the insect. It belongs to the same 

 genus as a very common insect called Microgaster glomeratvs, 

 which will be duly described when the parasitic animals are 

 under consideration. 



With regard to this insect, I have been rather fortunate, 

 liaving found many specimens of the nests, and bred from them 

 several hundred insects. 



Although plentiful enough in cei-tain places, the Burnet 

 Ichneumon, as I shall venture to call this species, is very local, 

 and while abounding in one place may never be seen in another 

 spot at the distance of a very few hundred yards. I give it the 

 popular name of Burnet Ichneumon, for the same reason — com- 

 paring great things with small — that Gains Martins bore the 

 title of Goriolanus and Publius Cornelius Scipio was termed 

 Africanus — namely, that it destroys so many Burnet Moths. 



In its perfect state the Ichneumon looks like a rather small 

 gnat, and would probably be mistaken for that insect by a non- 

 entomological observer. When examined through an ordinary 

 magnifying glass, it is seen to possess a wondrous beauty which 

 no one could ever suspect when looking at it with the unaided 

 eye. The body and head are of a pale yellow colour, except 

 the prominent compound eyes, which are dark blackish brown. 

 The head is round and rather small, but the thorax is of 



