RILEY ON ITS INSECTIVOROUS HABITS. 115 



No. 6162.— Female; August 24, 1887, Washington, D. C. Contents: One lepidopter- 

 ous larva (Crambus sp.). 



No. 6163. — Female; August 24, 1687, Washington, D. C. Contents: Parts of one 

 Hymercpteron (Myzine 6-eincta). 



No. 6164. — Female: August 24, 1S37, Washington, D. C. Contents: One Hymen- 

 opteron (Tiphia sp.). 



No. 6204. — Young female; August 26, 1SS7. Washington, D. C. Contents: One 

 Noctuid larva (Lamplujgma frugipcrda) ; One Perlid; one Psocus; four small ants 

 [Monomorlum pharaonis). 



No. 6"229. — Female: August 29, 1887, Washington, D. C. Contents: One Hynien- 

 opteron {Tiphia sp.); one flea-beetle (Chcelocnema denticulata). 



No. 6256. — Female ; September 3. 1537, Washington, D. C. Contents: Very nu- 

 merous specimens of flea-beetles (CJimtocnema denticulata). 



No. 6267. — Female; September 5, 1537, Washington, D. C. Contents: Remains of 

 several small locusts, the species not recognizable. 



HABITS OF THE INSECTS CONCERNED. 



Order Hymenopteea. 



Haeictus sp. — Contained in Nos. 6025 and 6090. 



There are numerous species of these small bees (fam. Andrenida) throughout the 

 United States. They excavate cells in the soil of grassy fields, which cells are reached 

 by a perpendicular burrow from sis to twelve inches in depth. Each cell is filled by 

 a lump of pollen the size and shape of a pea, upon which a single egg is deposited. 

 The transformations take place wi thin this cell. The mature insects feed upon pollen, 

 are agents in fertilizing flowers, and therefore rather beneficial than harmful to man. 

 As they are quite slow in their motions, especially in early morning or after a rain, 

 they are readily captured. 



Tipeua sp., without much doubt inornata Say. — In ten stomachs, viz,, Nos. 5526, 

 5532, 5545, 5662, 5693, 6026, 6091, 6093, 6164, and 6229 occur the remains of a Tiphia, 

 family Scoliidce. All the remains are in such a condition that the species can not be 

 recognized with certainty, especially as they are separated on very trifling characters. 



The life-history of T. inomata is recorded by me (6th Eep. Ins. Mo., 123). The black 

 and rather hirsute wasp frequents flowers in open places. The females are enabled 

 by their strong legs to dig into the soil, which they do in search of food for their off- 

 spring. This food consists of the larva of May-beetles (fam. Scarabaeidse), the so- 

 called " white grubs/' that of Lacluwstcrna fusca being particularly attacked. An 

 egg laid upon or near the grub soon produces the wasp larva, which bodily devours 

 its victim, leaving only the brown and horny head, which is almos.t invariably found 

 fastened to the outside of a fine silken cocoon of a gold-brown color, and composed of 

 many layers, made by the mature larva for transformation. Tiphia is therefore bene- 

 ficial to man, and from the fact that it burrows in open places, such as lawns, gardens, 

 and meadows, it is easily discovered by birds. 



Myzine sexcixcta Fab.— This brightly colored wasp, a member of the family 

 Scoliidce, occurred in the contents of many of the stomachs. The identification was 

 made easy by the fact that the birds had chiefly taken the males which have a pecu- 

 liar anal armature, consisting of three strong chitinous spines, too hard to be ground 

 up or broken by the numerous pebbles almost always present in the stomachs. In no 

 less than thirty cases, viz. Nos. 152,5705. 5712, 5713, 5720, 5940, 5941, 5945, 5946, 5951, 

 5953, 5970, 5971, 5972, 5975, 5976, 5977, 5932, 6000, 6010, 6021, 6025, 6053, 6092, 6109, 

 6112, 6134, 6141, 6161, and 6163, either one, two, or several specimeus were found. 



This species of Myzine is very common throughout the Atlantic States and is usually 

 seen flying low over sandy places. Its life-history has not been recorded, but we 

 may safely infer for it a parasitic habit similar to that of Tiphia. 



One reason why the Sparrows have been able to secure so many specimens of this 



