196 
HYMENOPTERA. 
occurrence of a dead one in one cell. Hymenopterous and Dipterous 
parasites attack this Pseudagenia. 
Salius includes a number of species, of which some are abundant. 
Salius flavus, Fabr., is the common yellow insect, the wings yellow with 
deep purple-black at the apex ; it has been observed to store spiders 
in the ground. Bingham remarks that some store cockroaches or 
crickets in holes in trees. 
The following notes record the observations of T. Y. B. Aiyar, 
formerly Assistant at Pusa :— 
From March to July this insect is the commonest of the bigger 
species of Pompilidce in Pusa. It is found very generally in open 
meadows with a pretty hard soil 
and in such parts of the meadow 
where there are often found big 
holes made in the ground. Not 
uncommonly this insect is found 
under trees where the ground 
is covered by fallen leaves and 
twigs. In these localities it is 
found very busy searching holes 
for spiders ; its active progression Fig. 107 .-Pompilus analis. 
with its long limbs and occa¬ 
sional flight is very graceful to look at. With great patience it goes 
on visiting hole after hole. One has been watched searching every 
hole in half an acre in the meadow in the Botanical area for full two 
hours and a half with no success; at last finding the search fruitless, it 
flew away and perched on a distant tree. 
When, however, the Salius is fortunate and in its search comes across 
an inhabited spider hole, it comes out of it quickly and prepares itself 
for the affray. The preparation consists of a slight rest followed by the 
cleaning of the antennae with the front legs and of the abdomen with 
the hind limbs. It then carefully enters the hole and disturbs the 
tenant. Within a second out come both the wasp and the spider. 
The extreme care displayed by the wasp in dealing with its antagonist 
is worthy of remark. As soon as it comes out of the hole, it goes a little 
