1908. 1 235 



Additional British examples of Micrambe villosa, Heer. — Although brought 

 forward on a single specimen (see ante p. 105) several examples have Bince been 

 found in the Power collection, as well as in numerous private collections. — Id. 



Combat between Xantholinus linearis and Dyschirius thoracicus. — While walking 

 along, half way up the sand cliffs at Corton, near Lowestoft, on August 21st, I sud- 

 denly saw a Xantholinus running along at a considerable pace down the side of the 

 cliff, with its abdomen unusually stiffly protruded. Its head was considerably 

 elevated, and in its jaws it held a Dyschirius by the under-side of the thorax ; the 

 abdomen was doubtless extended in order to counterpoise the weight of the prey. 

 The captor proceeded unsteadily over the sifting sand for three or four seconds, 

 evidently much incommoded by the struggles of the Dyschirius, which seemed too 

 heavy to be kept altogether from touching the sand with its hind legs ; and when this 

 happened sufficient leverage was obtained for it to fasten its mandibles upon one of 

 the captor's antennae. The counter attack so deeply affected the Xantholinus that 

 it dropped its burden upon the sand, and the latter instantly made off up the cliff 

 as swiftly as possible ; but the Xantholinus followed close at its heels, or rather so 

 closely that for some time its jaws were feeling for a deadly grip between the 

 Carabid's head and thorax. Then a loose grain of sand gave way, precipitating both 

 some inches, with the result that the Dyschirius, recovering itself first, made off 

 again upwards, while the Xantholinus struck out to the left, still searching with 

 lateral twistings of head and antenna? to ascertain the whereabouts of the fugitive ; 

 but with no success, so I placed both in a tube, where no notice was taken of 

 one another. — Claude Morley, Lowestoft : August, 1908. 



Note on the nesting habits of Dasypoda hirtipes, Latr. — Whilst at Totland 

 Bay I had the opportunity of watching a colony of Dasypoda m which a number of 

 females were forming their burrows in a hard pathway ; they were working hard at 

 them at h" p.m. on July 7th, and it was very interesting to see how well adapted 

 their extremely plumose legs are for the purpose of removing debris. A female 

 would disappear down her hole, and after a short interval a movement in it would be 

 evident, and up would come a load of sand, entirely filling the opening, and behind 

 it the bee working her way out backwards, her body and fluffy legs quite preventing 

 any of the sand from slipping back. The amount brought up each time was of 

 about the same bulk as the creature herself ; as soon as she arrived outside she gave 

 the sand a parting kick or so, left it, and shot down into the hole again as hard as 

 she could. In this way the debris was deposited by degrees into, I suppose, an incon- 

 veniently large heap, for erery now and then she would, after bringing up her load, 

 run backwards for about two or three inches scattering the sand by extending her 

 hind legs laterally several times in rapid succession, thereby forming a regular path, 

 along which she scuttled back into her hole. 1 have often wondered why Dasypoda 

 required such largely developed pollen brushes, but probably they are a good deal 

 due to some special peculiarities in nest building ; they were certainly being used 

 freely as brushes in this case.— Edward Saunders, St. Ann's, Woking: Sep- 

 tember, 19U8. 



