The species of Colletes are mostly prettily banded with white 

 pubescence, and construct their cells in sandy banks, of a very thin 

 membrane, through which the pollen is readily seen. C. daviemna 

 is usually the commonest species, though others are frequently 

 abundant. C. fodiens, on thistle ; C. piciatifinta, on yarrow and 

 tansy; and C. succincta, on heath. C. marninata I have only taken 

 at St. Helens, in the Isle of Wight, on thistles. C. ciniicidaria, 

 which differs very widely from the others in appearance, is only 

 found on the Lancashire and Cheshire coasts. It is more like a 

 large brown Andrena. The species of Prosopis are all small, black 

 and shining. Many of them nest in perforated bramble-stems, 

 though almost anything with a hole in it will suit them. Five or 

 six of the species are fairly common, and are very partial to flowers 

 of the bramble and mignonette. The genus Sphecodes contains a 

 number of red and black bees with very scanty pubescence. They 

 appear always to be associated with certain species of Halicfus, on 

 which they are parasitic. At one time it was thought that they con- 

 structed their own burrows, but I have satisfied myself, at any rate, 

 that though they may be seen scratching at a burrow, they do not 

 really construct one. On one occasion, on Redhill Common, I saw 

 a Sphecodes apparently digging, but closer observation showed that 

 it was only scratching away the loose earth that was being pushed 

 out by a ? Halictiis. 



The members of the genus Halictus often form large colonies in 

 banks and pathways, many of the smaller species being very 

 abundant. The females hibernate after pairing, reappearing with 

 the first warm days of spring. A few of them are quite rare, and 

 two or three species have not been met with for many years. 



Andrena contains more species than any other British genus. 

 They burrow in much the same kind of situation as Hallctnti, espe- 

 cially the early species, many sandy banks being quite riddled with 

 their burrows. The later summer species are, many of them, more 

 solitary in their habits. Among the early species, A. albicans, with 

 red thorax and red apex to the abdomen, is sure to be found on 

 dandelions, and frequenting the same flower, the more local white- 

 banded A. faftciata. A. clarkella, with fulvous thorax and fulvous 

 hairs at the base of a dark abdomen, is a very early species, which I 

 have taken on February 19th. It visits the sallow blossom. A. 

 apicata is another very early insect, usually being over ere March is 

 out. A. fnlra is as beautiful as it is common, thorax and abdomen 

 being covered with rich fulvous pubescence. It rapidly fades in 

 sunny weather. Many of the Andrenae assume the perfect state in 

 the autumn and pass the whole winter in waiting for suitable 

 weather to make their appearance. The three species of CiUsm are 

 very like Andrena in appearance and habits. C. haeniorrhoidalis 

 visits the common harebell, C. leponna the white dutch clover, 

 and C. vuianura frequents the red bartsia. Macrajiis labiata is a 

 very local insect, which I have taken only at Matley Bog on the 



