THE PIGEON TREMEX. 537 



with a seal, are ochre-yellow. The antennae are rather 

 short and blunt, rust-colored, with a broad black ring in 

 the middle. The wings expand two inches and a quarter, 

 or more ; they are smoky brown and semitransparent. The 

 legs are ochre-yellow, with blackish thighs. The borer, awl, 

 or needle is as thick as a bristle, spear-pointed at the end, 

 and of a black color; it is concealed, when not in use, 

 between two narrow rust-colored side-pieces, forming a kind 

 of scabbard to it. 



This insect is figured and described in the second volume 

 of the late Mr. Say's " American Entomology." The male 

 does not appear to have been described by any author ; 

 and, although agreeing, in some respects, with the two 

 other species represented by Mr. Say, is evidently distinct 

 from both of them. He is extremely unlike the female 

 in color, form, and size, and is not furnished with the re- 

 markable borer of the other sex. He is rust-colored, varie- 

 gated with black. His antennas are rust-yellow or blackish. 

 His wings are smoky, but clearer than those of the female. 

 His hind body is somewhat flattened, rather widest behind, 

 and ends with a conical horn. His hind legs are flattened, 

 much wider than those of the female, and of a blackish 

 color ; the other legs are rust-colored, and more or less 

 shaded with black. The length of his body varies from 

 three quarters of an inch to one inch and a quarter ; and 

 his wings expand from one inch and a quarter to two inches 

 or more. 



An old elm- tree in this vicinity used to be a favorite 

 place of resort for the Tremex Columba, or pigeon Tremex ; 

 and around it great numbers of the insects were often col- 

 lected, during the months of July and August, and the 

 early part of September. Six or more females might fre- 

 quently be seen at once upon it, employed in boring into 

 the trunk and laying their eggs, while swarms of the males 

 hovered around them. For fifteen years or more, some 

 large buttonwood-trees in Cambridge have been visited by 

 68 



