ZOOLOGY. 



SIT 



3. Sirex, Mouth furnished with tvro strong jaws ; /ee/er^ 



two, truncated ; antennco filiform, with more than 

 twenty-four joints; piercer exerted, stiff, serrated ; 

 abdomen sessile, pointed ; wings lanceolate, flat, the 

 lower pair shorter. 



4. Ichneumon, Mouth with jaws ; tongue wanting ; cmten" 



nee setaceous, with more than thirty joints ; abdomen 

 sessile ; piercer with a cylindrical exerted bivalve sheath. 



All these animals deposit their eggs in the bodies of living 

 Insects ; the larvee feeding on the juices of the unfortunate 

 ?inimals, but not affecting the vital parts, so that they are con- 

 stantly supplied with proper nutriment ; generally turning 

 into the Chrysalis state, previous to the death of the insect 

 on which they were hatched. 



5. Sphex, Mouth with jaws ; tongue wanting ; antennce 



often joints; wings flat, incumbent, not plaited, (in 

 each sex;) sting venomous, concealed in the abdomen. 



The females of the last genus deposit their eggs in the 

 bodies of living animals ; by this, the eggs are deposited in 

 the bodies of dead ones ; by means of their sting they over- 

 come insects otherwise too large for them to master ; they 

 are very savage and rapacious, preying on any insects that are 

 go unfortunate as to come in their way ; the larvae is footless, 

 and the pupa possesses the rudiments of wings. 



6. Chrysis. Mouth with jaws; antennce filiform with tlic 

 first joint lengthened, the remaining eleven, Short; fig. 



