HYMENOPTERA. 
All species of the family, however, are not parasitic on humble-bees, for in South 
America, where the tribes of the former are scantily represented, those of the latter 
are numerous. Of the third family, we take as example the formidable Scolia 
nemorrhoidalis, which is found in Turkey, Hungary, Greece, and Southern 
Russia. Not very much is known of its habits and life-history, but such as is 
points to a larval life parasitic on various beetles; while other members of the 
Mutilla europcea—1, Female; 2, Male; and Scolia nemorrhoidalis —3, Male; 4, Female. 
family have been taken from nests of the parasol-ant. In the Scolidce the wings 
are present in both sexes. Figures of the male and female are given in the 
illustration above. 
Family Bembicidaj. 
The members of this family are distinguished from the under-mentioned 
Sphegidcu by the formation of the labrum, which is much produced. In general 
appearance they resemble the hornets and larger wasps. Bembex rostrata, figured 
on p. 35 , is found not uncommonly throughout Europe, but becomes more local in 
the northern countries. The insects fly in circles, with a loud hum of their power¬ 
ful wings round and round the burrows which the female makes in the loose sand 
or earth. Here are stowed away the bodies of large flies, reduced by an application 
of the sting to a state of unconsciousness; and in each nest a single egg is laid, the 
grub when hatched feeding upon the food which it finds placed within its reach. 
Family PoMPILIDAZ. 
In this group the males are characterised by their slender form and small 
size; and both sexes may be recognised by their energetic hurrying to and fro 
with quivering wings and antennae, moving rapidly on all sides, as they search 
sandy commons for a suitable spot to burrow in, as well as for the spiders which 
they numb with a sting and store up for the larvae. The members of the family 
are universally distributed, being larger and more brilliant in tropical countries. 
VOL. vi.—3 
