related to the Spheges in diet, they are far removed from them in the
industry of their larvae. The first are workers in mosaic, encrusting a
network of silk and sand; the second weave pure silk.

Of smaller size and clad in black with trimmings of silvery down on the
edge of the abdominal segments, the Tarsal Tachytes frequents the ledges of
soft limestone in fairly populous colonies. (T. tarsina, LEP.) (According
to M. J. Perez, to whom I submitted the Wasp of which I am about to speak,
this Tachytes might well be a new species, if it is not Lepelletier's T.
tarsina or its equivalent, Panzer's T. unicolor. Any one wishing to clear
up this point will always recognize the quarrelsome insect by its
behaviour. A minute description seems useless to me in the type of
investigation which I am pursuing.--Author's Note.) August and September
are the season of her labours. Her burrows, very close to one another when
an easily-worked vein presents itself, afford an ample harvest of cocoons
once the site is discovered. In a certain gravel-pit in the neighbourhood,
with vertical walls visited by the sun, I have been able within a short
space of time to collect enough to fill the hollow of my hand completely.
They differ from the cocoons of the preceding species only in their smaller
size. The provisions consist of young Acridians, varying from about a
quarter to half an inch in length. The adult insect does not appear in the
assorted bags of game, being no doubt too tough for the feeble grub. All
the carcases consist of Locust-larvae, whose budding wings leave the back
uncovered and put one in mind of the short skirts of a skimpy jacket. Small
so that it may be tender, the game is numerous so that it may suffice all
needs. I count from two to four carcases to a cell. When the time comes we
will discover the reason for these differences in the rations served.

The Mantis-killing Tachytes wears a red scarf, like her kinswoman, Panzer's
Tachytes. (The Mantis-hunting Tachytes was submitted to examination by M.