1897.] 83 



its very large head ; tlie Noinada from all our other species except 

 horealis by its entirely black thorax and black scape of the antennae. 

 The still rarer Andrena ferox is probably to be found late in May or 

 early in June, and A. chn/sosceles, nana, fasciafa, humilis, labialis, 

 fulvacjo and cingulata generally appear during this month. Chry- 

 sosceles and nana usually on TJmheUiferce ; fusciata, humilis and 

 labialis on dandelions ; angustior on Hieracium pilosella or Ranun- 

 culus, cingulata on Yeronica chamoedrys. Nomada ochrostoma, the 

 messmate of A. labialis and WilJcella, N. Jlnvoguttata of nana and 

 N. ftrruqinata of fulvescens appear soon after their hosts. An 

 occasional Ccelioxys or Megachile may occur, and a few of the 

 Osmias and Anthophora retusa, this last very closely resembles pilipes, 

 especially in the $ , but may be known by its pale calcaria and by the 

 rather shorter pubescence ; the ^ is more brightlj" coloured as a rule 

 than British specimens of pilipes, and may be known at once from 

 them by the absence of the very long hairs on the intermediate joints 

 of the middle tarsi. The two species of Melecta known at once from 

 all our other long tongued bees by their black bodies with snowy- 

 white spots of pubescence on the sides of each segment, are now about, 

 occurring round the burrows of Antliopliora ; M. armata is the 

 inquiline of A. pilipes, 31. luctuosa of retusa. The latter species is 

 by far the rarer of the two and may be known by the somewhat square, 

 not punctiform, spots of white pubescence on the apical segments. 

 Most of the species of Odynerus appear in May ; some of these are 

 rare, and are only known from a very few localities. O. Icevipes 

 burrows in bramble stems and therefore should be looked for where 

 the plant abounds ; O. reniformis has as yet only occurred at Chobham 

 and near Virginia Water Station, on sandy spots, making a tubular 

 entrance to its nest which projects about an inch above the soil, this 

 tube should betray its whereabouts at once, but it is probably easily 

 washed away by rain. O. spinipes, which is a far commoner insect, 

 makes curved tubes of a somewhat similar nature in banks. O. 

 crassicornis is one of the rarest species, but so little is known about 

 it that it can only be kept in mind and looked for generally, it is 

 about the size of a (^ antilope, but belongs to the section which has 

 the first segment of the abdomen longitudinally impressed towards 

 the apex. 



In May and early June the best localities for collectors of 

 Aculeata are sheltered lanes and the outskirts of woods where 

 flowers abound, banks, sand pits, &c., with a southerly aspect, dandelions 

 and other yellow composite flowers, UmbellifercB, blackthorn and 



