1891.] 195 



On the cliffs round Stolic-Flcining workers of the small ant, Leptothor ax unifasciata, 

 Ltr., ran over the shale in the hottest sunshine. I also found their nests, wliieh were 

 formed in cracks between the flakes of shale. The number of individuals in each 

 nest was small. Tetramorium caesjntum, Linn., was also abundant, and Lasius 

 alienus, Forst., generally distributed. The only occasion on which I have seen bees 

 plentiful this season was one morning at tlie end of May, in the lanes round 

 Moreton-IIampstead. Andrena similis, Sm., <? , and A. varians, Rossi, were 

 abundant and fresh; A. cingulata, Fab., and helvola, Linn., and a single $ of 

 Halictus Icevigatus, Kii-b., also occurred. In a sandy bank there was an enormous 

 nest of Lasius fuUginosus, Ltr. Unfortunately, I had no net on this occasion, and, 

 being a very bright day, bees were not easily to be caught in the fingers. As in 

 other localities, Andrena angustior, Kirby, is generally distributed all round Dart- 

 mouth, and over the moor, but not very abundant. I have taken a few specimens of 

 A. fulvago, Chr., in the blossoms of Hieraoium, and a single ? A.fucata, Sm., 

 freshly emerged. The g of the latter appears to be unknown in this country, unless 

 it is identical with that of helvola, Linn., fucata being merely a variety of that 

 species. Osmia fidvicenti-is, Pz., anea, Sm , and aurulenta, Pz., have all occurred, 

 the two latter on the cliffs. O. aurulenta was making use of the empty shells of 

 the whelk, which lay at the foot of the cliffs, for its nidus. The cells are lined with 

 masticated portions of green leaves. I have often watched Osmia fulviventris 

 chewing up rose leaves for a similar purpose, but that species generally, if not always, 

 chooses out the decayed and yellow ones. Aurulenta has long been known as using 

 snail-shells for its nest. — R. C. L. Perkins, Townstal House, Dartmouth : June 

 loth, 1891. 



Andrena liccephala at Box Hill. — This being an entirely new locality for this 

 species of spring bee, I perhaps may be pardoned for asking the recording of so in- 

 teresting a capture. On the 5th of last month, in the company of my friend Mr. 

 Alfred Beaumont, I visited the neighbourhood of Box Hill, in the hopes of capturing 

 a few additional insects for my collection ; the weather was anything but propitious 

 for our recreation, being very overcast, with a cold N.E. wind blowing, we were, 

 however, favoured with an occasional burst of sunshine, which, although very brief, 

 while it lasted induced a host of insects to appear ; during one of these fitful out- 

 bursts of sunshine we came across a magnificent clump of sloe bushes (Prunus 

 spinosa), which were completely enveloped in a dense mass of bloom, hovering over 

 and around these bushes were numerous species of Diptera, Ichneumon idcB, An- 

 drenidce, &c., and, amongst others, Andrena hucephala, Steph., several of which were 

 soon captured, Mr. Beaumont taking one male with an abnormally large head ; not 

 being familiar with this species I submitted it to my friend Mr. Edward Saunders, 

 who with his usual kindness at once identified it for me, with the remark that it was 

 an extremely interesting capture. Mr. Smith, in his Cat. Brit. Hym., 2nd ed., p. 61, 

 says the species is now rare, and gives as its localities, Bristol and Chobham Common. 

 Mr. Edward Saunders says, "local," and adds Hampstead as another locality. 

 Andrena albicans, Trimmerana, and nigrocenea were very abundant, while Nomada 

 ruficornis and alternata, although not so numerous, were also in company. The 

 rarity of this species of Andrena is my excuse for troubling you with this note. — 

 T. R. BiLLUPS, 20, Swiss Villas, Coplcstono Road, Peckham, S.E. : June, 18'J1. 



