184 
TRANSFORMATIONS OF INSECTS. 
ovules of which it fertilises ; and then the growth of the fruit 
proceeds rapidly. 
The so-called Dead Sea fruits are galls which have been 
produced by a Cynips. 
THE PARASITIC HYMENOPTERA. 
(. Ichneumonidce , Ckalcididce, Proctotrupidec. ) 
The parasitic Hymenoptera form a little world of themselves, 
and they have the same habits, instincts, and metamorphoses, 
although their numbers are enormous. They form the insect 
array which Nature employs to check the superabundant multi- 
plication of the phytophagous or vegetable-feeding creatures of 
the class. Every parasite attacks a particular species or some 
closely allied kinds, in obedience to some mysterious law; and 
many an unfortunate caterpillar is subject to the violence of 
several of these dangerous enemies. Nearly every insect has 
more than one parasite, and this fact enables us to estimate the 
multitudes of Hymenoptera that are in the world. 
These Hymenoptera belong to three very distinct types ; but 
each of them has females which are furnished with a straight, 
thin, and sharp ovipositor. These parasites are very pretty and 
elegantly formed insects when in the adult form, and are gifted 
with great agility and restlessness. But in their early condition 
they cannot move, having no locomotive organs, and their 
structures are so soft that they are destroyed with the greatest 
ease. The larvae look like worms or maggots, and do not attain 
a great perfection of development during their growth. The 
contrast between the lazy and sluggish larva of the active and 
restless adults of the parasitic Hymenoptera is almost as great as 
that of the larva and the imago of the industrious Hymenoptera, 
such as the bees. 
All the parasites seek out a caterpillar, a larva, or an insect 
which suits their purpose, in order to lay an egg within its body. 
A larva which is born from this egg is nourished by the blood 
and fat of the victim, whose vital organs it does not touch or 
injure in any way, for were it to die the parasite would come to 
