THE " PIvASXERER " INSECT. 503 



seemed to be employed in this laborious occupation, yet 

 there was not a white slave-ant among them. One cold 

 morning, I observed a band of another species of black 

 ant, returning each with a captive ; there could be no 

 doubt of their cannibal propensities, for the " brutal 

 soldiery " had already deprived the white ants of their 

 legs. The fluid in the stings of this species, is of an 

 intensely acid taste. 



I had often noticed the stupefaction produced by the 

 injection of a fluid from the sting of certain insects before. 

 It is particularly observable in a hymenopterous insect 

 called the " plasterer " (Pelopceus Eckloni), which in its 

 habits resembles somewhat the mason-bee. It is about 

 an inch and a quarter in length, jet black in colour, and 

 may be observed coming into houses, carrying in its 

 fore-legs a pellet of soft plaster about the size of a pea. 

 When it has fixed upon a convenient spot for its dwelling 

 it forms a cell about the same length as its body, plastering 

 the walls, so as to be quite thin and smooth inside. When 

 this is finished, all except a round hole, it brings seven or 

 eight caterpillars or spiders, each of which is rendered 

 insensible, but not killed, by the fluid from its sting. 

 These it deposits in the cell, and then one of its own larvae, 

 which, as it grows, finds food quite fresh. The insects 

 are in a state of coma, but the presence of vitality prevents 

 putridity, or that drying up, which would otherwise take 

 place in this climate. By the time the young insect is full 

 grown and its wings completely developed, the food is 

 done. It then pierces the wall of its cell at the former 

 door, or place last filled up by its parent, flies off, and begins 

 life for itself. The plasterer is a most useful insect, as it 

 acts as a check on the inordinate increase of caterpillars 

 and spiders. It may often be seen with a caterpillar or 

 even a cricket much larger than itself, but they he perfectly 

 still after the injection of chloroform, and the plasterer, 

 placing a row of legs on each side of the body, uses both 

 legs and wings in trailing the victim along. The fluid in 

 each case is, I suppose, designed to cause insensibility and 

 likewise act as an antiseptic, the death of the victims 

 being without pain. 



Without these black soldier-ants, the country would be 

 overrun by the white ants ; they are so extremely prolific, 

 and nothing can exceed the energy with which they work. 

 They perform a most important part in the economy of 



