Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-09-24


A very different insect from the
spider, and its greatest enemy, is the
chneumon-hy-a beautiful creature,
all splendid in green and gold, from
one to one and half inches long, with
hread-like waist, a most formidable
sting, and of great strength and rapid
ty Of flight. One of the most familiar
indoor sights is the fly laboring along
with huge spider suspended from Its
egs towards its mud-cell, which it has
previously constructed with great la
Dor in some convenient corner Of the
'oom. The favorite occupation Of the
chneumon-Ay, however, seems to be
!ricket-hunting, and it is constantly
10 be seen on exploring expeditions
among cricket-burrows. Wherever the
freshly turned-up earth, covering the
mouth as a guard by day, indicates a
'enant within, there the fly vigorously
ligs away, and makes the fine earth fly
from his long, wiry legs. AT loss
irst to understand these untiring la
bors, | watched one patiently. After
half an hours hard work, at last it
seemed to have pierced through
he obstacle, and disappeared inside,
out | was surprised to see it
Instantly emerge again, and
once more begin digging vigorously as
before, but now as if to widen the
aperture. Repeatedly it attempted to
60 in, but as often returned to resume
Its digging, and on looking closer I
found out what had puzzled me ex-
planned by the large head and formid-
able jaws of a cricket filing up the
entrance. Whichever way the fly
turned, the head turned to meet him,
and he was now evidently bent on
storning the stronghold by widening
the approach. But this was not left
for him to do. In faint-hearted
moment the cricket made fatal re-
treat, and in an instant the fly was in
after him. For few seconds neither
appeared, then the cricket bolted out
with wild leaps away from home as IL
for dear life, and in two seconds more
the fly was out and, making straight
for him, fixed upon him for moment.
Then the leaps of the cricket grew
shorter and feebler as at each leap tho
fly momentarily fastened upon him,
till at last he could only drag along at
q walk, and the fly, once more settling
on him, dug in his sting long and deep
Iy, during which process, no doubt.
he deposited the germ of another fly.
Without any delay he then began
dragging the cricket, at least six times
his own bulk, along the ground toward
his nest. Great as the number Of
rrickets must be which the ichneumon-
fly thus disposes Of, the cricket has not
around it the domestic halo of ro-
nance which it bears at home, and
small pity is felt for one so destructive
to vegetation and so troublesome in
the evenings when its deafening whirr
almost browns the voice. 1t is Won
derful how long the insects deposited
by the ichneumOn-fy in its cell remain
alive. Even if this be broken open
DAYS after it has been closed and left
by the fly, these will still be found with
a remnant Of life in them: no doubt
for a purpoSc--to keep the food sup.
plies fresh till the eggs deposited in
them have fairly burst and the young
larva begins to feed on its surround
ings, these comprising heterogeneous
mass of spiders, caterpillars, and crick-
cts. The ichneumon-Ay, though too
intent upon Its own business to trouble
any one, is savage enough when inter,
fered with, and its sting is thing we'll
to be avoided. the Year Round.