NOTES ON THE CAPTURE OF RARE SPECIES IN 1858. 115 



to us the capture of a British bee for the first time is a 

 remarkable event ; last year we had that gratification, and 

 this season, for the first time, we took a male of the rare 

 JProsopis dilatatus; and, better still, have obtained a per- 

 forated stick, containing, we have little doubt, a series of 

 seven cells of that bee, enclosing the larvae ; the cells are 

 lined with the same kind of transparent membrane as those 

 constructed by the species of the genus Collotes, but with 

 this difference, there is no space left between the cells, 

 they are separated simply by a division of thin membrane ; 

 we hope next year to be able to describe the female of this 

 rare species, which is at present unknown. 



Andrena decorata. This rare bee was captured by 

 Mr. Parfitt, in Devonshire. 



Andrena nigriceps. Three or four examples of the female 

 were taken on the flowers of the Rag-wort, to the south of 

 Lowestoft. 



Andrena Coitana. Taken at the same spot as the pre- 

 ceding, in company with A. Shawella, Kirby; thus con- 

 firming the correctness of uniting Kirby's species. We have 

 now taken them in company in Yorkshire, at Kingsdowne 

 near Deal, and at Lowestoft. 



Cilissa tricincta and Panurgus Banksianus, both occur 

 near Lowestoft. 



Nomada annata. This rare species was taken by 

 Mr. Parfitt, near Exeter, on ground where the following 

 species also occurs ; it may prove to be its parasite. 



Osmia xanthomelana. A fine series of this very local 

 bee were taken in the spring by a working collector, J. Trus- 

 cott of Exeter, of whom we obtained some very fine examples. 

 Mr. Parfitt also took the species in the same locality near 

 Exeter. 



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