230 BRITISH BEES. 



of males, and, at the same time, their burrowing spot, 

 which was not larger than half-a-dozen square yards, 

 was swarming with them, coming and going, burrowing 

 and provisioning. Very numerous, but not so numerous 

 as themselves, were their pretty parasite, the Nomada 

 Fabriciana, fine specimens of both sexes of which I have 

 constantly captured ; and a remarkable singularity per- 

 taining to the latter is, that some seasons it would totally 

 fail, and another season present itself sparsely, when, 

 after these lapses, it would recur in all its primitive pro- 

 lusion, although the Panurgus was every season equally 

 present. Both these insects are found during the months 

 of June and July, especially about the middle of the 

 former. In their burrows, which they perforate verti- 

 cally, they usually enclose about six cells, each being 

 duly provisioned and the egg deposited, when each is 

 separately closed and the orifice of the cylinder filled up. 

 This species is also found in Kent and Surrey, and I 

 have no doubt thev might be discovered in most of the 



V CJ 



southern counties. The smaller species, which is a good 

 deal like a little Tiphia, is remarkable for the peculiarity 

 of the male having a projecting process upon its poste- 

 rior femora, whence it derives its specific name, calca- 

 ratus, which is hardly consistent, as it is not quite the 

 right place for a spur. This smaller species is also found 

 in Kent, Hampshire, and at Weybridge, in Surrey, and 

 in the Isle of Wight. As well as in the Leontodon, it 

 likes to repose in the flowers of the Mouse-ear Hawk- 

 weed (Hieraciuiii) . 



