114 THE NATURALIST IN BERMUDA. 



tinged of a like colour. Another species, P. flavipes, is 

 rather common, having its body prettily marked with bands 

 of black and yeUow. For our own satisfaction, and to clear 

 up a doubt, we allowed one of these insects to sting us, and 

 found the pain somewhat similar to that produced by the 

 venom of our English wasp. The flowers of the fennel 

 plant seem to attract this, as well as the former species. 

 Mr. Hurdis states that it is known on the islands as the 

 "mason wasp," and that "it builds its clay cell upon 

 ceiluigs of verandahs, eaves of houses, and about windows." 

 He remarks, " it is a fine insect (somewhat larger than the 

 Bermuda wasp), and may be observed throughout the 

 summer, carrying, withia its legs, a round ball of moist, 

 sandy clay ; with these balls it moulds its cell mth much 

 industry, making a peculiar buzzing noise while so engaged. 

 When completed, the structure resembles an oval lump of 

 mortar. Two or three cells are sometimes united. On ex- 

 amination, the interior of each will be found in the form 

 of an oblong apartment, neatly rounded, and of sufficient 

 size to hold the parent insect; into this the mason wasp 

 introduces as many spiders, — alive, though apparently half 

 dead, — as the aperture will hold ; and having deposited 

 its egg among them, closes up the entrance with clay in a 

 very neat manner, leaving the future care of its progeny to 

 Nature. The larva, after consuming the unhappy spiders, 

 assumes the chrysalis state, and comes forth a perfect 

 insect." 



The " honey bee " of the Bermudas is very common ; 

 and, apparently holding to the old maxim, " improves each 

 shining hour," as do its congeners in more temperate climes. 

 It is smaller than the common honey bee of .England ; and. 



