198 Mr. J. O. Westwood on the Hahits 



Cypris (Midi,) MucRONATA. Plate XXII. fig. 15. 



Ovate, green, one variety feruginous, scaly posteriorly vv^ith a mi- 

 nute aculeus curving upwards. Anterior legs with three subequal 

 claws ; posterior with short not much curved claws. Motion very 

 slow. 



This minute species was found with the last. 



Fig. 15, a, C. mucronata, magnified. 



b, The aculeus. 



c, One of the claws on the hinder legs. 



XLII. Notes upon the Hahits of various British Insects. 

 By J. O. Westwood, F.L.S., Sfc. 



[Read August 3, 1835.] 



The science which the entomologist cultivates may justly be deemed 

 one of the most interesting of pursuits, constantly affording, as it 

 does, fresh matter for gratification ; for it fortunately happens that 

 should he be unsuccessful during his rambles in the capture of objects 

 of rarity, he has at command the means of endless observation upon 

 the habits of those which do fall in his way, and which, from the com- 

 paratively little hitherto recorded, will delight him if new, and will 

 not tire him, if even already noticed. 



In some of my recent excursions, when tired with my walk and 

 " heated in the chase," I have seated myself on some soft turfy spot 

 near the residence of some of the sand- wasps, and have amused my- 

 self with watching their various employments. 



Ammophila hirsuta first attracted my attention. The specimen was 

 a female engaged in constructing her nest ; she was very busily em- 

 ployed scratching in the sand with her fore legs, and soon formed a 

 hole about a third of an inch deep. Whilst thus engaged I placed 

 myself as near to her as possible ; on withdrawing her head she 

 discovered my proximity to her, when creeping upon a little stone 

 close by, she reconnoitred and then flew away. I lost sight of her 

 for some time, but on proceeding to the next sand-bank I found her 

 flying about, and as she soon quitted this spot I fancied she might 

 have returned to her old quarters, which I found to be the case on 

 my returning there. In this manner we continued to play at hide- 

 and-seek with each other for several times, until I fairly drove her 



