Latreille distinguishes Oxybelus from Astata (pi. 261) and 

 Nysson by a difference in the number of the cubital or sub- 

 marginal cells, and the remarkable trimucronated scutellum is 

 a striking character. 



The males are smaller than the females, their bodies are 

 narrower, the antennae have a greater number of joints, and 

 the clypeus, at least in the Type, has a projecting ridge, like 

 a nose. Of their oeconomy I am ignorant, but Latreille says 

 they bury dead flies and lay their eggs close by them. 



The following species have been detected in Britain. 



1. O. uniglumis Lin7i. F. S. 1681. — Panz. 64. 14-? — 10-macu- 



latus Do7i. 11. 376. 1. 1. war. 



" Thorax immaculate : scutellum mucronate : abdomen with 

 8 white spots, the 2 basal ones ovate, the others linear : thighs 

 black, tibiae ferruginous." The male has sometimes 10 spots 

 on the abdomen, it is said. 



On umbellate flowers in Kent. June and middle of August 

 on sandy cliffs and footpaths in pairs, at the back of the Isle 

 of Wight, also on sunny banks Pool Harbour: J. C. At Ap- 

 pledore, Dawlish, Bristol, Portland, Lulworth, Parley and 

 Monkswood ? J. C. Dale, Esq., from July to September. 



2. O. mucronatus Fah. Fnt. Syd. 2. 300. 25. 

 " Scutellum bidentate and mucronate, black spotted with 



yellow: all the abdominal segments with transverse yellow 

 spots on each side : legs black, thighs yellow." 



Mr. Dale thinks he took this on Parley Heath, July 5, 1823. 



3. O. concinnus Step. — mucronatus Panz.? 101. 19. 



4. O. tridens? Fab. E. S. Supp. 270. 24. — Nomada punctata, 



Fab. E. S. 



*' Scutellum black immaculate; all the abdominal segments 

 with transverse yellow spots on eacJi side : legs rufous, thighs ' 

 black." 



I have taken a pair, I believe, of this species. 1 



5. O. trispinosus Fab. E. S. 2. 301. 26. — Lat. Gen., c^r., tab. 



13./. 13. 

 " Scutellum black, abdomen with 2 yellow spots on each 

 side : legs black, apex ferruginous." 

 End of June, Wrentham, Suffolk. 



6. O. argentatus Matt.— Curt. Brit. Ent.pl. 480.?. 

 The beautiful specimen figured was taken on the sand-hills 



near Liverpool in July 1831 by A. Matthews, Esq., of Lincoln 

 College, Oxford, to whom I am indebted for the loan of it. 

 The Plant is Hedypnuis {^ipargia) /lispida (Rough Apargia). 



( 



