36 HYMENOPTERA. 



which I captured were males ; the female I have very rarely 

 taken. 



Megachile maritima is an abundant insect on the sand-hills 

 at Deal during July ; there it burrows in the ground, which 

 proves it to be an insect of varied habit. I have observed 

 it burrowing in decayed wood in Hampshire ; but in the Isle 

 of Wight it burrows in the cliffs of Sandown Bay in mul- 

 titudes ; at Deal, as in Sandown Bay, it is accompanied by 

 its parasite Ccelioxys Vectis. 



Megachile argentata. This is the M. Leachella of Stephens 

 and of all our cabinets a few years ago, an insect then con- 

 sidered a great rarity; in 1844 I met with one or two at 

 Weybridge, and four years ago I again took two or three at 

 Southend. The metropolis of this species is on the sand-hills 

 at Deal ; in the month of July they are to be found settling 

 on every hillock, the place is literally alive with them, their 

 cheerful piping sound is heard everywhere ; the male is 

 usually found chasing the female from flower to flower; 

 sometimes they are pursued by two or more males at once 

 whilst settling on the trefoil. This insect burrows in the 

 ground, and lines its tunnel with the leases and petals 

 of Lotus corniculatus ; the latter appear to be most fre- 

 quently selected for the inner lining of the cells, and are 

 also used together with cuttings of leaves in forming the 

 divisions between the cells. The industrious little creature 

 having lined its burrow as described, deposits a sufficient 

 quantity of semi-fluid pollen and honey for a single larva, 

 and then closes in that portion of the tube with circular 

 pieces of leaf, thus forming the first cell ; the process is re- 

 peated until five or six cells are furnished, when her task is 

 completed. There can be little doubt of the same bee con- 

 structing several burrows of this kind. 



