COLLECTION OF ARTICULATED ANIMALS. 4^5 



greenish fluid, which they dart to the distance 

 of a foot. The hymenoptera which follow have, 

 for the most part, a piercer composed of three 

 filaments, of which the two lateral ones serve 

 as a covering to the other, which is the oviduct 

 properly so called. The ichneumons deposit their 

 eggs in the body of other insects, and particularly 

 in that of the caterpillars and their chrysalis. In 

 their larva state they do not injure the vital parts 

 of the animal, and kill it only when they ap- 

 proach the time of their transformation. The 

 cjnipes make incisions in certain parts of plants, 

 and cause those tubercles known by the name of 

 galls, which we sec on rose-trees, oaks, etc. ; and 

 which become a habitation and food for their 

 posterity. The chry sides, whose brilliancy of co- 

 lour is so remarkable, are associated with those 

 hymenoptera which destroy the larvae or nymphs 

 of insects. 



There are other hymenoptera which form a 

 second section remarkable for their instinctive 

 faculties, and which instead of a piercer have a 

 sting. To this section belong several well known 

 insects, in whose history we must necessarily 

 feel interested, such as the ant, the wasp, the 

 sphex, the bee, etc. We shall fix our attention 

 however less upon the insects than upon their 

 productions, which arc here exhibited in three 



