256 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



Drilus flavescens (female) near Ashford. — On Whit- 

 Monday last 1 picked up an example of the above-mentioned 

 rarity crossing a road on the Chalk Hills. Never having 

 seen a female Drilus, but perceiving my captive was a perfect 

 insect, though very larva-like, I forwarded it to Mr. Cham- 

 pion, who kindly determined the species for me. Wishing 

 Mr. Champion to see it alive, I placed it in a jar with a 

 banded snail or two, but it refused to feed, and after a few 

 days laid about two dozen eggs, and died. My example is 

 consequently a poor one. The eggs were not fertile, or 1 

 should have tried to learn something of its natural history. — 

 T. H. Hart; Kingsvvorth. 



Brachinus crepitans. — I have observed that the little 

 bombardier beetle has been exceedingly plentiful this year, 

 and 1 feel interested to know if this has been the experience 

 of others. 1 caught my first specimen in March, and this 

 was the first 1 had ever seen here ; since then, and till 

 quite lately, they have appeared in great numbers. On the 

 South Downs, near Eastbourne, I also saw several of these 

 insects, though 1 have no recollection of having observed 

 them there before. Altogether Brachinus seems to have 

 been an exception to the general scarcity of his order this 

 year. It is a very sociable insect, and 1 have seldom seen 

 one without finding others close by. These beetles are very 

 partial to my sugar compound, and have swarmed on trees 

 prepared for moths. Colias Edusa has quite disappeared 

 from here this year. — F. G. Hopkins; Ridgeway, Enfield. 



Mowing operations obstructed by Bees. — On June 27th 

 last my man was cutting clover with a mowing machine, and 

 hearing that he was continually stopping I proceeded to the 

 spot to enquire into the cause. He informed me that the 

 mower was choked by the quantity of "mouse-nests" that 

 got on the finger-points. 1 picked up one of the said nests 

 lying near, and to my surprise found it contained not young 

 mice, but a mass of about a dozen pupa-cells of some bee. 1 

 then examined all 1 could find, and with the same result. 

 The nests were beautifully formed of grass-shreddings, with 

 apparently only one opening. From the contents of one nest 

 I reared two perfect insects, which were somewhat larger 

 than the honey-bee, stouter in proportion, and covered with 

 thick gray pubescence. I have no doubt the species is well 

 known to entomologists, but it has not come under my 

 observation before, and consequently excited my curiosity. 

 — T. H.Haut; Kingsworth, Ashford, Kent. 



