1IYMEN0PTERA. 
129 
papers on this and kindred subjects. I regret I have 
not space to quote much of Dr. Chapmans well- 
narrated words, but must content myself with a short 
summary. 
Chrysis ignitci , the most abundant of the family, will 
lay her eggs in the nest of almost any kind of Wasp or 
Bee, to which she can obtain access. Occasionally she 
will visit the burrows of Odynerus Spinipes (one of the 
Mason Wasps). Two other species of Ruby-tails, viz., 
Chrysis neglecta and C. bidentata , are specially attached 
to this Mason Wasp, and apparently to no other ; these 
two Ruby-tails are common where the Mason Wasp 
abounds. The nest of another Mason Wasp ( Odynerus 
parietum ) was seen to be visited by the Chrysis ignita ; 
the narration is as follows:—“On July 17th, I observed 
a nest of 0 . parietum with one cell open, containing a 
nearly complete supply of lepidopterous larvse. A 
Chrysis ignita , flying about, settled beside the cell, and 
after a brief examination with her antenna), wheeled 
round, and introducing her abdomen into the cell, rested 
for about twenty seconds, doubtless, in the act of 
oviposition. I now regret that I did not then examine 
the contents of the cell, in order to ascertain the 
fate of Odynerus parietum s egg. Three-quarters of an 
hour later, 0 . parietum had closed the cell with the 
usual earthen pellets. I examined this cell on the 
19th, two days after, when I found a larva of C. ignita 
a quarter of an inch long, together with several of the 
lepidopterous larva) stored by the Wasp, but found no 
trace of either egg or larva of the latter. On the 23rd, 
six days from the date of oviposition, the Chrysis larva 
had eaten all the store, and was full fed. I obtained 
