200 Mr. J- O. Westwood on the Habits 



jaws and dragged it down. As these proceedings did not occupy more 

 than a quarter of an hour, I feel inclined to think that as there was 

 not suiRcIent time to dig a deep burrow, the cell thus made was in- 

 tended only for the reception of a single larva, and that, as the sand was 

 very loose, and so little time occupied in the operation, a fresh nest 

 is made for each larva. Lastly, I attribute the boldness of this spe- 

 cimen to the circumstance of her being further advanced in pregnancy 

 than the former one was, which rendered her more urgent in com- 

 pleting her nest. 



Another common species belonging to the same genus, Amm. vul- 

 garis, was flying about the same situation ; its attitudes when in 

 flight are very droll, the abdomen being held out at an angle with 

 the rest of the body. In wall<ing I observe that the hind pair of 

 legs are almost useless, being dragged along behind the others, and 

 nearly motionless. This species differs from the former in the mode 

 of digging its burrow. It, indeed, uses its jaws, like the A. hirsuta, 

 in burrowing, but when they are loaded, it ascends backwards to 

 the mouth of the burrow, turns quickly round, flies to about a foot's 

 distance, gives a sudden turn, throwing the sand in a complete 

 shower to about six inches' distance, and again alights at the mouth 

 of the burrow. 



The motions of Oxyhelus uniglumis in constructing its burrow are 

 still more droll. This is a bustling little creature, which seems to 

 have much tlifficulty in finding an agreeable situation for its hole. 

 I have seen it commence several within a very small space, and leave 

 them after all. As soon as it has settled on the bank it raises itself 

 almost into an upright position by elevating the hind part of the 

 body and extending its four posterior legs, and immediately com- 

 mences with amazing rapidity the digging of its hole, its two fore 

 legs being moved alternately, and with such quickness that it is 

 difticult to perceive them ; by this means it very soon digs a hole 

 more than sufficient to cover itself. Mr. Shuckard tells me that 

 it carries its prey by means of its hind legs. 



Osmia bicornis, one of the mason-bees which I have observed bur- 

 rowing in sand-banks, the mortar in old walls, and in rotten wood, 

 flies off with the particles of sand or other materials dug up in form- 

 ing her cell to a much greater distance, I think about three yards, 

 returning in a direct line to the mouth of the burrow. 



To what is this variation attributable .'' If it were for the mere 

 purpose of preventing these particles of sand, &c., from accumulating 

 at the mouth of the burrow, one plan of operation would be suffi- 

 cient ; but in some of the Odyneri observed by myself on Barnes 

 Common, and in Einpone spinipes as Mr. Shuckard informs me, so 



