80 [MAreh, 



at a sweep. In uiy experience it is exclusively the parasite of A. Wilkella, Kirb., 

 though said also to attack A. labialis, Kirb. N. Fabnciana, Linn.— Unusually 

 common. Tiiis species is parasitic on at least two species, A. Gwynana and 

 Halictus ruhicundus, Chr. The specimens taken by me last season were attacking 

 the former; and occurred from the Ist till the end of May. When parasitic on 

 the Halictus, they appear at the end of May and continue till the middle of July. 

 At the end of July, and in August, the specimens parasitic on Owt/nana sometimes 

 produce a second brood. This species may, therefore, be met with almost throughout 

 the entire season. N.flavoguttata, Kirb. — Unusually scarce ; the small Halicti, 

 which it attacks, were hardly seen either in spring or autumn. 



Osmia bicolor,'^iSh\. — Loss common than usual. O. pilicornis, Sm. — I took a 

 short series of this species (^ $ ). It burrows in dead wood. 



Sfel is phcEoptera, ILirh. — One ?; another seen. 



Bombus cognatus, Stph. — Unusually scarce. B. Latreillellus, Kirb. — One ? , 

 and a few $ . B. sylvarum, Linn. — All the nests I have found of this species have 

 been built underground, though it is often stated to build on the surface. B. Der- 

 hainellus, Kirb., and B. lapidarius, Linn. — The former always builds a nest on the 

 surface of the ground, the latter always below. Volucella bombylans, the parasitic 

 fly, I feel sure, must attack the former, since the nest is placed in exactly similar 

 situations to that of B. muscorum, Linn., from which the parasite has been bred. 

 Nevertheless, it is generally stated to attack and mimic B. lapidarius, which is 

 probably a mistake. 



The common species of VespidcB were very abundant. Odyneridte mostly 

 scarce. Ancistrocerus Anti/ope, Panz., very abundant, liowever, and A. callosus in 

 its usual numbers. The habits of this last species differ from any other of its 

 section. The females hibernate and re-appear very early in the spring, like Halicti, 

 Bombi, &c. It provisions its nest with green Tortrix larvae of considerable size. 

 From one burrow I took about a dozen of these ; one of them pupated immediately, 

 but died ; the others were all packed witli full-grown parasitic larvce of IchiietimonidcB, 

 which appeared in thousands in tlie winged state after three or four days. It is 

 evident, therefore, that the larvte of the wasp would iiave starved, as tlie eggs had 

 not been hatched, when I took the store from her burrow. 



Fossores were exceedingly scarce, and I saw nothing which I have not previously 

 recorded. Pottipilus gibbus, S , appeared on May Ist, an exceedingly early date for 

 these localities. — R. C. L. Pekkins, Sopworth Rectery, Chippenham : January, 1891. 



ICdmund Andre, F.E.iS. — Tlie French publications announce the unexpected 

 death of tliis well-known ilymenoptcrist. Established at Beaune (Cote d'Or) 

 formerly as a wine merchant, he later started as an entomological bookseller and 

 general Natural History Agent, on an extended scale. His published entomological 

 notes, &c., were numerous ; but his principal work was the " Species des Hymenopteres 

 d'Europe et d'Algerie," commenced in 1879, and continued, with the aid of his 

 brother and other Hymenoptcrists, until his death. The portion concerning the 

 Braconidce was supplied by the Kev. T. A. Marshall. It is to be hoped that this 

 most important work will be continued. He became a Member of the Societe En- 

 tomologique de France in 1879, and joined the Entomological Society of London in 

 1880. He was also a Member of the Berlin and Stettin Societies. 



