Heracleiun. It preys on the larva of PJdlaenits fipuiiiarii(x, the com- 

 mon Cuckoo-spit, which is found in the masses of froth that are so 

 frequent on plants, (j-ori/tes cainpestriti has the same habits, but is 

 very much more local in its distribution. The third genus, or sub- 

 genus, HnplUns, contains three British species, of which one is 

 exceedingly rare, resting apparently on Shuckard's record from the 

 New Forest, hi. qnadvifasciatiia is occasionally fairly common, and 

 H. bicinctns is distinctly rare. I have two specimens that I caught 

 on raspberry leaves at Redhill, and a third taken by Dr. Chapman 

 at Reigate. I know nothing of the prey of either species. Of the 

 four species of Ni/sson practically nothing is known of their habits, 

 though two of the four are fairly common. lY. iiiterrnptiix has been 

 bred from decayed wood by Mr. Bignell. I have always taken N. 

 iliiiiiiliatiis in very warm grassy places near bushes, and have known 

 it to feign death ; a habit that is recorded also of xV. triniacitlatna. 



The two British species of MdliniiH provision their nests with 

 Diptera, and Smith, in his catalogue of Brit. Foas. Hi/m., says that 

 the method of capture is for the Mellinun to run slowly past the 

 fiy in an apparently unconcerned manner until near enough to 

 pounce suddenly on its victim. M. arvensis is one of the 

 commonest of the Sand-wasps, being abundant in almost every 

 sandy locality in which I have collected. M. sabidosits is much 

 more local, though sometimes occurring in considerable numbers. 

 The single species of Philanthus is a very bold-looking insect, 

 though rarely met with of late years. At one time it used to be 

 abundant at Sandown Bay, but I searched there for it during four 

 successive seasons, from 1895 till 1898, and on two occasions since, 

 without finding a single specimen. I know of only one recent 

 record, an example being taken at Folkestone in 1898 by Mr. Freke. 

 This tine insect preys on bees, provisioning its nest not only with 

 species of I lalictns and Andrena, but also with Hive Bees. I have 

 put a continental specimen into my box to show what it is like. It 

 is common in the Channel Islands and also in Brittany. 



Cerceris is a somewhat similar genus, the species, especially the 

 common C. arenaria, being fairly large, and conspicuously marked 

 with black and yellow. There are, however, deep constrictions 

 between the segments of the abdomen, which are wanting in 

 PhilantliHH, and the second of the submarginal cells is petiolated, 

 the nervures separating it from the first and third submarginals 

 uniting above it, so that those cells approxmiate above and prevent 

 contact with the marginal. C. armaria captures weevils, usually 

 species of Stroph(»<oiiiiis, with which I have frequently taken it at 

 Hastings. C. ornata I have taken with Halirti. The other species 

 I have never taken, but Smith records C labiata as preying on 

 Haltica tabiila and C. 5-fasciata as taking Apion rufirostre. 



The genus O.vj/beliis has four pretty little variegated species on 

 the British list. One is very common, two rare, and one is of doubtful 

 occurrence. They resemble Astatns in their quick movements on 



