706 Marvels of the Universe 
banks ; and other species of the same genus with somewhat different habits may also be found in 
the same situation. Another species selects hollowed bramble and raspberry stems, making its 
cells in the pith. Holes in old gate-posts may provide still another species. Various species will 
select all sorts of singular places when they enter houses: a pistol-barrel, folded paper, the edges 
of books, the mouth-piece of a horn, the drawer of an old-fashioned looking-glass, and a house- 
keeper’s work-box, are all objects in which cells of these interesting insects have been found. 
Furthermore, we have much to learn regarding the curious habits of these insects, and likewise 
those of their parasites, as but little knowledge is available regarding several British species. They 
are insects which, after one’s attention has been called to their habits, may be observed by any 
amateur student of insect life, and should the reading of this article be the means of any of my 
By permission of] [The Royal Meteorological Society. 
ENORMOUS HAILSTONES. 
A photograph of Hailstones which fell at Seaford, May 30th, 1897. They are shown actual size. 
readers recognizing one or more species of these insects during their nest-building season, I should 
feel grateful if they will carefully record the sites selected, material used, and, as far as possible, 
the size and markings of the insect, together with the place and time of its appearance, and address 
these particulars to me through the publisher of this work. 
Jal AN IL IL, 
BY RICHARD KERR, F.R.A.S. 
As regards hailstones, we are more fortunate than our friends on the Continent. We very rarely 
have to experience a bombardment of these frozen missiles the size of a turkey’s egg. Yet, our 
neighbours, according to most reliable accounts, are at times subjected to falls of hailstones larger 
than a man’s fist, and some surprising descriptions of enormous hailstones and tremendous hail- 
