STRANGE DWELLINGS . 
162 
long, and, when the size of the insect is considered, are singu- 
larly powerful, especially the last pair of legs. We think the 
legs of the 'kangaroo are enormously large in proportion to the 
size of its body, but they must be doubled in length as well as 
in thickness to equal those of the Burnet Ichneumon. The 
fore-limbs are not so very large, but they are long and possessed 
of great clasping power, aided by the hooked feet. 
What then is the use of such powerful limbs % The habits of 
the insect supply the answer. 
As is the case with many ichneumon flies, this insect-— which, 
by the way, is not a fly but a near relation to the bee and ant — 
deposits its eggs upon caterpillars, boring holes in their skin with 
its pointed ovipositor, which is the analogue of the bee’s sting, 
and inserting its eggs in the perforations. As may naturally be 
imagined, the caterpillar has a very strong objection to this pro- 
ceeding, and when the ichneumon settles upon it, and begins to 
use her weapon, twists and wriggles about like a captured eel. 
Now the strong limbs of the ichneumon come into play. 
Minute as is the insect when compared to the caterpillar, bearing 
about the same relationship that a rabbit bears to an elephant, 
the legs are so long that they can include a considerable portion 
of the skin in their embrace, and so strong that they can retain 
their hold in spite of the contortions with which the caterpillar 
tries to rid itself of its persecutor. Retaining her place, there- 
fore, the ichneumon deposits a great number of eggs in the poor 
caterpillar, and then goes to find another victim. 
I am not sure whether or not the ichneumon makes a separate 
wound for every egg. If so, the feelings of the caterpillar are 
not to be envied, for I have found nearly a hundred and fifty 
ichneumon larvae in the body of a single caterpillar. No wonder 
that the persecuted being endeavours to fling off the creature 
that is inflicting so many wounds. The numerous short and 
bristle-like hairs with which the legs are thickly clad, are doubt- 
less useful in retaining the hold of the insect. 
I 
it 
Our last example of the pensile nests formed by the hymen- 
op tera is a truly remarkable one. For some time I could 
