104 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



"The size alone would serve to distinguish this little bee 

 from its congeners; but it is subject to very considerable 

 variety. The females have sometimes the extreme base, as 

 well as the apex of the abdomen, black, and the head occa- 

 sionally subquadrate ; the legs are sometimes nearly black. 

 The males vary much in the degree of colouring in the legs : 

 specimens occur with their feet testaceous-red ; the abdomen 

 also varies much in its markings. I formerly considered it to 

 constitute two species; but I have satisfied myself that it is 

 only a variable insect. In the Linnean Cabinet is the authentic 

 specimen of the Sphex ephippia of Linneus, — one of the 

 varieties of this insect. The M. divisa of Kirby is a dark 

 example of the male, having the antennas black; but they 

 are usually more or less fulvous beneath ; but in truth it is 

 almost impossible to decide whether the latter variety be not 

 in reality a very minute male of S. gibbus." — ' Catalogue of 

 Bees; p. 20. 



The fifth species is described by Mr. Smith, under the 

 name of S. fuscipeunis, which is said to have been found by 

 Dr. Leach at Kingsbridge, in Devonshire. 



Edward Newman. 



Larv(B Preserving. By W. E. Sharp, Esq. 



To the systematic entomologist who makes a collection of 

 any special group of insects, not so much from a mere love of 

 acquisitionof specimens, or ambition to surpass rival collectors, 

 but who looks upon it as an illustration of the various groups, 

 families and genera into which the insect world is divided, it 

 must ever cause regret that this should only be attainable 

 with complete satisfaction in the imago state. In all orders 

 of insects those typical characteristics which unite or divide 

 species into genera and families are displayed in many cases 

 as much in those stages which we must consider as incom- 

 plete, as in the imago form. Bearing this in mind the 

 methodical collector of insects should exhibit not only the 

 images of a species, but also side by side with these the 

 unattractive larva from which they sprang, the pupa form and 

 home in which they underwent their metamorphosis, and 

 even the egg from which they were first hatched ; and these 



