168 [July, 1900. 



on his last visit the first recorded (^ of Paraccelioxys rufiventris, Spin., 

 living parasitic-ally with Megachile mucorea, Friese. We made for the 

 place, under his direction, and were rewarded with many specimens (^^ 

 and ? ) of both insects, and also with plenty of Megachile flavipes^ 

 Spin., and Coelioxys farinosa, Smith, and of a dark blue Chrysis {electa, 

 Walker). 



April 3rd. On donkeys to the Saccahra Pyramids, but the day 

 was windy and cloudy, and Hymenopfera hardly appeared at all. On 

 the way, however, near the Statue of E,ameses, M. Pic lighted on such 

 a tempting hunting-ground for Goleoptera that lie then and there 

 dismounted, and we saw him no more till the end of the day, when be 

 re-appeared laden with spoils, and escorted by an admiring retinue of 

 juvenile natives. As for the rest of us, we had given up entomologiz- 

 ing for that day, and devoted ourselves to gaining such instruction in 

 ancient Egyptian zoology and field sports, as is to be found in the 

 wonderful relievi which decorate the Tomb of Ti. 



April 4th. This was my last collecting day in Egypt. I revisited 

 the old ground between Marg and Matariyeh, and again had tolerable 

 success, though the weather was still unfavourable. Masaris and 

 Nectanehus both re-appeared, and I noticed that the former showed a 

 marked partiality for Echium. I saw a $ enter a simple burrow in 

 the flat sand. The Masaridce are believed to be parasitic, but very 

 little has been recorded as yet of their habits. 



Next morning we left Cairo for Port Said, and there embarked 

 for Jaffa. 



April 6th- 10th. We were at Jerusalem, but I shall say nothing 

 of all we did and saw there, except as entomologists. 



Spring was but just beginning. The daj's were bright and sunny, 

 but the nights intensely cold, so that we shivered round the stove in 

 our hotel (Frank's). Tet wherever we went it became evident that 

 the district abounded in entomological treasures, though we were a 

 little too soon to reap the perfect harvest. Near Bethany, and on the 

 Mount of Olives, numbers of rarities and several novelties were to be 

 found. Among my own best finds w'ere a new and most interesting 

 species of JPariiopes, which M. du Buysson will soon describe, if he 

 has not yet done so, and a remarkable new Osmia (mirabilis, Friese), 

 which turned up also later on Mount Lebanon. Dr. Schmiedeknecht 

 took on the Mount of Olives three (^ ^ oi a, magnificent new red 

 Andrena {melittoides, 'Friese), and we both found another new but less 

 remarkable Andrena (unicincta, Friese) in the same locality. An 

 excursion on April 8th to Bethlehem, and thence by w^ild hill paths to 



