1881.] 161 



met with Bombus soroensis for the first time at Southend, and obtained all the sexes 

 in that locality. Having diligently collected during the last twenty years, without 

 meeting with this species, it is probable that it is extremely local, and that its com- 

 munities are small." But in his second edition, he concurs with Thomson (Hymenop. 

 Scadin.) in giving the B. callumanus as a " distinct species," and in substituting the 

 B. collinus of his first edition as the male of B. soroensis ; while reiterating, in both 

 instances, the reference to his former captures at Southend, and to other specimens 

 obtained by Mr. Walcott from the Brighton Downs. 



Colletes picistigma, Thorns. — Five specimens of the male of this species, new to 

 the British fauna, were taken by me on chamomile flowers in August, along the 

 undercliff near Chewton, Hants. I did not meet with any of the other sex. — Sidney 

 Smith Sattndeks, G-atestone, Upper Norwood : November, 1881. 



[The $ of this latter species has been taken in several localities by Mr. Bridgman 

 and myself, and this capture of the S is most interesting. I hope to describe both 

 sexes in an early number. — E. S.] 



Dufourea vulgaris, Schk., at Woking. — While walking along the banks of the 

 Basingstoke Canal at Woking on the 1st of August last, I observed a number of 

 small black Apidce busy at work on the bloom of the Ragwort : to capture some few 

 of them was the work of a very few minutes, and amongst them was one specimen 

 which, when I picked it off the bloom, did not attempt to fly away but appeared very 

 sluggish and lay in the palm of my hand as though feigning death, or as though 

 benumbed with cold. Not knowing this insect I submitted it to Mr. E. Saunders, 

 to whose kindness I am indebted for its determination ; it is a ? and somewhat 

 resembles a 6mall Panurgus calcaratus in whose company it was taken ; it is 

 rare both on the continent aud in this country. There is, I believe, only one other re- 

 corded capture of Dufourea in England, viz., by Sir S. S. Saunders (vide Ent. Mo. Mag., 

 xvi, p. 181), in 1879, who took a solitary $ specimen by sweeping, near Christchurch, 

 Hants ; although I have looked carefully several times since in the same locality 

 I have not been again able to meet with it. — T. B. Billtjps, 4, Swiss Villas, 

 Coplestone Boad, Beckham : November, 1881. 



Lasiosomus enervis, H.-Sch., near Weybridge. — A solitary specimen of this 

 exceedingly rare Hemipteron was captured by myself at Weybridge, in March last, 

 while shaking out moss over paper in search for the smaller Brachelytra; as I think 

 this is the second specimen that is known to have been taken in this country, a record 

 of its capture may not be unworthy a place in your Magazine. I am indebted to 

 my friend Mr. E. Saunders, to whom I submitted the same, for his kindness in 

 identification. — Id. 



A few words on the larva of Cerura erminea as distinguished from that of C. 



vinula.— Having lately been asked to determine whether a Cerura was vinula or 



erminea, I had my attention drawn to the published figures and descriptions of the 



i larva of the last named species, and finding some very contradictory statements as to 



its essential characters, I confess that for a time I was fairly puzzled. 



