352 



HOMES WITHOUT HANDS. 



This is one of the species which are tolerably common in 

 certain localities, but as they are very local, may be reckoned 

 among the varieties. Mr. F. Smith, in his " Catalogue of the 

 British Yespidse," mentions that it has been taken in several 

 parts of Hampshire, Berkshire, near Weybiidge, and has been 

 found plentifully at Sunninghill. Probably, the rarity or fre- 

 quency of this species, as is the case with many others, depends 

 greatly on the eyes which look after it 



BUHENES ASD ARELEKA. 



This little wasp constructs small globular ceUs of mud, and 

 fastens them to the stems of various plants, the common heath 

 being the greatest favourite, so that heath-covered commons are 

 likely to afford specimens of the nest and its architect. Each 

 nest contains only a single cell, and is only intended to rear a 

 single occupant. The wasp is a very useful insect, as it pro- 

 visions its nest with the larvae of small lepidoptera, each Eumenes 

 grub recLuiring a tolerably large supply of caterpillars. 



As is the case with so many insects, the Eumenes is greatly 

 subject to the attacks of parasites, which contrive to deposit 

 their eggs in the larvae in spite of the hard mud walls of the 

 cell. Mr. Smith mentions that he has bred from the nest of the 

 Eumenes, an ichneumon fly belonging to the genus Cryjptvs. 



