The Cercerides are well characterized by the singular form 

 of their abdomens, the segments being coarctate, or girted in 

 at their margins, and the petiolated submarginal cell of the 

 superior wings will also distinguish them from neighbouring 



genera *. 



They are generally found in sandy and heathy situations ; 

 and the males, which have an additional joint to their antennae 

 as well as to their abdomens, are much rarer than the females, 

 from which they also frequently vary in their mar-kings. 

 They nourish their larvae (Latreille informs us) with the dead 

 bodies of the Andrenae (a genus of bees, plate 129), which 

 they place at the bottom of their nests in the manner of the 

 Sphecidae. 



Our British species are 



1. C. laeta Fab. mas. — Curtis Brit. Ent. pi. 269. fem. — 



aurita Fab. fem. — Lat. 

 The females of this insect were abundant last August, 

 entering holes in sandy places at the back of the Isle of Wight, 

 and also at Ramsdown in Hampshire; but it is remarkable 

 that I never saw a single male. 



2. C. quinquecincta Fab. mas. — Panz.63. 12. — quadricinc- 



tus Panz. 63. 1 3. Jem. 

 Found in June in sandy places, also in July, I believe, by 

 Mr. Dale on Parley Heath. 



3. C. labiata Fab.— Panz. 63. 16.— Sturm Verz. t. S.f. 7. 

 This species with its singular labrum I have taken in Nor- 

 folk. 



4. C. quadrifasciata ? Fab. — Panz. 63. 14-. mas. 



I took a male flying amongst heath the 30th July. 



5. C. ornata Fab. — Panz. Q3. 10. fem. 



I once met with this insect either in Norfolk or Suffolk. 

 The plant is Mentha rotimdifolia Smith (Round-leaved 

 Mint). 



• The dissections were made from a female, and in some of the plates the 5th 

 and 6th joints of the maxillary Palpi are wanting, the first specimen examined 

 having been injured. 



