164 MESSES. C. HOENE AND E. SMITH ON HYMENOPTEEA 



him), and twenty-five spiders of various sizes in the two cells. I could not find the egg 

 or larva in the third cell, which had only just been closed ; but the former was doubtless 

 on the body of one of the larger spiders which had been first deposited in the cell. 

 " Benares." 



It is very wonderful to see how well the food is packed, and it is worthy of inquiry 

 how the stored spiders remain alive and^Zwmp for so many days. It must be the effect 

 of the poison conveyed through the sting of the Pelopceus when it captures the insect. 



At times it builds its solitary, highly finished cell on some small hanging object, 

 such as a stalk of grass in a thatch under shelter; and then the shape of the cell is 

 curious, being rather ovate, so as to throw off the rain. At others the cells are placed 

 side by side in great numbers, say twelve or fourteen, and so well covered over with 

 mud as to be almost unobservable (PL XXI. fig. 2). The situation is very often in the 

 midst of a plant of grass, the stalks of which are, as before observed, covered far up 

 with mud. 



Fam. CEABRONID^. 

 Trypoxtlon REJECTOR, Smith. (Plate XXI. figs. 4 & 4 a.) 



This curious little insect, when first hatched from the delicate little Serpularia-like 

 cells, was taken by me for some parasite allied to the Ichneumonidse, in consequence of 

 my having often observed it hovering at the mouths of the cells of the smaller cell- 

 building insects in my verandah. I found, however, that it brought mud and worked 

 for itself, as well as appropriated the cells of other insects which it found ready to its 

 hand. 



I have nowhere found recorded its habits ; but I think I have seen it carrying minute 

 green spiders wherewith to fill its cells. It certainly does not feed its young, but stores 

 food ; for it closes its cells directly they are ready, which none of the Vespidse do. 



The construction of these is very curious ; and the pellets of earth used appear of a 

 sandy character, which gives to the structure great delicacy and fragility. At the same 

 time the interior of the cell is lined with some glutinous ejection which binds it together. 



The specimens of cells figured (the originals of which are now all in England) show 

 how strongly this cementing fiuid acts. (See PL XXI. figs. 4 & 4a.) 



The nests are extremely difficult to find, being small, and many straws hanging in the 

 places where they are usually constructed, such as under a thatch of coarse grass. 



As might have been expected, they remain a very short time in the pupa-state ; and 

 the month of September is their favourite season of construction, although they con- 

 tinue to build in October. 



I have often watched them as I sat in my thatched summer-house at Mainpuri ; and 

 the rapidity with which they came and went was surprising. I know of no other 

 special peculiarity which calls for remark, excepting that all the cells I have found 

 have been under cover. 



