ICHNEUMONID^. 



By S. D. Baiestow. 

 (Concluded. ) 



CHAPTER III. WAYS AND MEANS. 



** Of writing well these are chief est things, 

 To know the nature and the use of things 1" 



Summer sunshine allures thousands of these pert little insects from 

 their hiding-places. With sparkling, glistening wings 



" Whose azure floats in liquid fire " — 



wings whose hue it would be difficult to define, and 



" Must all the painter's art defy, 



And bid him from the task retire ": 



and with sharp, active motions they seem ever to be alert in quest of 

 sustenance and enjoyment. Indeed, when viewing their whole 

 demeanour one is struck with the notion that life and life's blessings 

 are relished to the uttermost degree. They are generally easy to 

 catch, being of such careless dispositions. An ichneumon's location 

 recognises no law of defined certainty : I find them by keeping my 

 eyes open. The way to make a collection, however, is by netting and 

 boxing every glittering fly which comes within one's reach. This 

 wholesale imprisonment idea smacks of cruelty, but only applies to 

 mere naturalist novices, as the more advanced ichneumon ologists are 

 very soon enabled to form an adequate idea as to which insects 

 they require, and which they do not. Every species should be placed 

 with a number and small piece of paper attached, descriptive of 

 locality, date of capture, and full particulars 5 or, better still, index 

 your note-book, and detail all memoranda there corresponding with 

 the numbers in the cabinet. As my friend Mr. G. T. Porritt would 

 observe, the best instructor of a naturalist is his note-book." Let 

 me inform intending students that ichneumons require care and 

 diligence illimitable, and unless they are prepared to take up the 

 gauntlet in real earnest, it is better left untouched. If it is to be 

 done at all, let it be well done. Another method of capture is the 

 ordinary one employed by entomologists in larva-getting, viz., shaking 

 the branches of trees into an umbrella or contrivance made for the 

 N. S., YoL. IV., June, 1879. 



