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numbers in the nest of this species. The numerous Fossores include 

 several handsome species of Mutilla, which occur under bark, as well 

 as walking about in sandy spots ; and the curious genus Thynnus, so 

 characteristic cf the Australian region, is represented in the vicinity 

 of ISydney by a very large number of species, which vary enormously 

 in size and appearance. Some of the males of the larger forms are 

 handsome and conspicuous iusects of somewhat wasp-like appearance, 

 which, when caught, go through the motions of stinging with great 

 vigour aud persistency, though they are of course perfectly harmless, 

 which is by no means the case with the apterous females. These 

 iusects frequent Uovvers, especially the attractive blossoms of the 

 Anffophora cordifolia (of which shrub i shall have much to say later 

 on), and are then almost invariably found paired, the females of some 

 of the species being ludicrously small in comparison with their part- 

 ners. Allied to these is Dlamma hicolor, Westvv., the female of which 

 is perhaps the worst stinging insect found about Sydney, or indeed in 

 Australia; it is a creature not unlike a stoutly built wingless ant 

 about an inch in length, deep shining chrome-green in colour with 

 coral-red legs ; it is occasionally found running actively in hot dry 

 places, and requires great caution and dexterity in capture. The 

 Angophora blossoms are frequented in their season by several large 

 and somewhat formidable looking Hymenoptera of the genera Scolia, 

 Ahispa, Priocnemis, &c. ; but these are by no means aggressive, and 

 are not to be feared while collecting. Among the Tenthredinidce are 

 several species of the curious genus Perga, including several fine and 

 highly-coloured iusects ; their larvse are found feeding in companies 

 on the foliage of the young gum trees, often stripping the boughs 

 quite bare, and when disturbed, raising their heads suddenly all 

 together in a very comical way. A small but very beautiful metallic- 

 green "carpenter bee," Lestis bombyliformis, Sm., passes its early stages 

 in the dry pithy flower-stalks of the quaint "grass trees" {Xan- 

 thorrhoea), and the perfect insect may be taken flying about them in 

 early summer. 



One of the most striking features of the Entomology of Sydney, 

 as soon as the hot weather fairly sets in towards the end of October, 

 is the abundance of the Cicadas, or as they are invariably miscalled, 

 " locusts." Every suburban garden or cluster of trees then resounds 

 with their shrill, and (at times) somewhat annoying stridulation, and 

 in some of the wooded gullies the din they make is often positively 

 deafening. Comparatively very few of them survive beyond the end 

 of January ; in some years, as in 1903 (it is said every third year), 



