58 PLATE DXXXI. 



knowledged variety of that fpecies defcribed by Linnaeus under the 

 name of iEgyptia ; and is clearly the variety found by Schaeffer in 

 the environs of Ratifbon (Ichneumon decimus JeptimusJ to which 

 Fabricius refers for his fpecies fpirifex. 



This infecl is chiefly an inhabitant of the fouth of Europe, where 

 it lives in focieties : the nefts are 1 " conftruclcd in the fides of the 

 mud-walls of cottages and other convenient fituations; their form 

 cylindrical, and the interior in fome degree refembling a honey-comb. 

 It preys on infefts of every kind, and is in particular a great enemy 

 to the fpider, which it eaiily overcomes, and feems to prefer to mod 

 other food.— The fize of this fpecies js considerable. 



PLATE 



