FEOM THE NOETH-WEST PEOVINCES OE INDIA. 175 



queen had been captured, they continued to build cells and repair the injuries done, 

 very neatly uniting the broken bit of covering paper which had been left. 



These wasps were often to be seen in flowers on the hill-side, and they appeared to 

 feed freely on fruit and on insects found on the pollen of flowers. 



The construction of the pillars of the nest was very neat, light and at the same time 

 strong. No clay would appear to be used in the making of the cells, which were of 

 regular waste-paper, the structure of which is of vegetable fibre. 



I took many specimens from a nest in a bank on the footpath which led to the top 

 of the mountain. At first they were very quiet ; but after a day or two, directly any one 

 approached they would fly at him if he stood but a moment near to the mouth of their 

 nest. Their instinct of memory is most strange. Their stings are irritating, but not in 

 any way dangerous to man, although it was by wasps of this species that a full-grown 

 sheep belonging to a resident of Ranee Khet, near Almorah, was killed. The animal 

 had doubtless trodden on an entrance to a nest, or pulled up some plant in feeding, 

 and so disturbed them. 



I had proposed to append a few notes relative to the parasites of these insects ; bnt 

 on second thought, I have briefly alluded to each in my notes on the species it afiects. 

 The genus Chrym is largely represented ; and there appears to be one of suitable size 

 for each species of hymenopterous insect, so as to fit the cells. 



Fam. APID^. 



LiTHURGUS DENTIPES, Smith. 



This insect in general appearance much resembles a Megachile ; but its coloration is 

 quite distinct. Its habits, however, are very similar, although the clay would seem to 

 be in general worked smoother. A favourite position for placing cells is the gallery 

 formed by the grub of some longicorn beetle in timber. In one case there were two 

 entrances; and in consequence some of the cells had been constructed to face one way, 

 and some the other, thus providmg for the more comfortable exit of the perfect insect. 



When considering the working of the ceUs of these insects, it is necessary to bear in 

 mind the position in which they are placed : e. g. in case no. 12 the spiraUy twisted series 

 is quite as rough exteriorly as those of M. lanata, whHst in cases 1 and 2, being pressed 

 for room, the work necessarily appears smoother. 



This insect seldom builds mud-daubs on the walls, and generally takes ready-made 

 hoUows for its building-purposes, although I have seen them working under the seat of 

 a chair and on a rough part of a wall. 



In all its habits it resembles M. lanata, and therefore no more remarks upon it wUl 



be called for. 



