270 [M<iy, 



of the burrow iu which it lies when not feeding, afterwards penetra- 

 ting to the middle of the root-stock, feeding on the pith, and making 

 a chamber of considerable size. "When full-fed — in December or 

 January — making its way out of the root-stock to spin up among 

 rubbish on the ground. 



These larvae were found in great abundance on Mablethorpe 

 sandhills, Lincolnshire, by Mr. W. H. B. Fletcher, in October, 1880, 

 but believing that they would hibernate in the stems, I put them out 

 of doors for the winter and lost them all. Mr. Fletcher very kindly 

 sent another consignment in the autumn of 1882, which were kept 

 indoors, but although they wandered all about the room, and spun up 

 in all manner of substances, only one specimen pmerged. Doubtless, 

 they required exposure out of doors, but it is hardly possible to en- 

 close out of doors, so that they cannot escape, larvje which feed in 

 large awkward stems like those of the ragwort. 



Pembroke : December, 1883. 



LITTLE-KNOWN BEITISH ACULEATE SYMENOPTERA. 

 BT EDWARD SAUNDERS, F.L.S. 



At the commencement of another collecting season I wish to call 

 the attention of Hymenopterists to the following Aculeafa, whose 

 titles to places in our list either rest on only one or two recorded 

 captures, or whose claims to specific distinction are more or less 

 doubtful. Some of these I feel sure would turn up again if collectors 

 would search for them in the localities where they have occurred 

 already, and the only hope of solving the questions respecting the 

 doubtful species is in obtaining further specimens so as more fully to 

 test their specific value. I therefore commend the following list to 

 the consideration of collectors, hoping that some at least of the 

 questions may be cleared up during the season. 



1. Tapinoma stitens, Mayr, = polita, Smith. 



One specimen taken many years ago by Mr. J. C. Dale at 

 Bournemouth. 



This should be carefully looked for in the Bournemouth and 

 New Forest districts. A shining testaceous ant belonging to the 

 section with only one node at the base of the abdomen ; it could not 

 be mistaken for any other species. 



