202 Mr. J. O. Westvvood on the JIabits 



that they alternately rose and fell in the same manner as tlie Ephe- 

 mera. They rested on the neighbouring buslies, but again renewed 

 these motions upon being disturbed. 



Tipula gigantea. In walking home from Coombe at dusk one 

 evening I heard a considerable rustling of insects' wings, like those 

 of a Libellula when flying amongst twigs, and immediately per- 

 ceived two specimens of this insect flying across my path. Suppos- 

 ing them to be engaged in amatory dalliance, I seized them, and was 

 surprised to find that they vv^ere two individuals of the male sex. In 

 like manner I captured two male specimens of a smaller species, al- 

 lied to T. oleracea, in the evening flying togetlier above my head and 

 fighting, apparently with great violence. And this reminds me that 

 some years ago I found two male specimens of Trichiosoma Incorum 

 rolling about on the ground, having seized each other with their 

 large and powerful jaws. Deadly battles between rival queen bees 

 have been recorded, but I am not aware that any of these encounters 

 between individuals of the opposite sex, incited as we may, perhaps 

 justly, suppose by jealousy, have been recorded. 



Sapyga punctata. Mr. Shuckard, in his interesting memoir upon 

 the fossorial Hgrnt^noptera, published in the First Part of the Transac- 

 tions of this Society, has founded some of his arguments upon the 

 assertion of St. Fargeau, that he had captured this insect in the act 

 of carrying oflT its prey, adding, however, in a note, that Mr. Bakewell 

 had seen it thrusting its abdomen into the nests of Osmia carulescens. 

 I have lately met with numerous specimens of the female of this in- 

 sect flying about walls exposed to the sun, and prying into the dif- 

 ferent holes, generally in the same manner as the Chrysides do ; but 

 I have never yet seen them engaged in forming a burrow, and in- 

 deed, from their motions, I am quite inclined to believe the assertion 

 of Mr. Bakewell rather than that of M. Saint Fargeau, and to con- 

 eider these insects as parasites, an opinion supported by the simple 

 construction of the legs. 



Methoca ichneumonides . I have captured this insect at Blackgang 

 Chine in the Isle of Wight, in the month of August, and at Low- 

 Cross Wood, between Dulwich and Sydenham. In both localities I 

 have found it in hot sandy spots exposed to the noonday sun, where 

 little clumps of short grass were to be observed. The insect is ex- 

 ceedingly wary, and endeavours, on being disturbed, to retreat 

 amongst the roots of this grass. 



Miscophus bicolor. On the 16th July, 1825, I caj^tured the only 

 two specimens recorded as British up to the present time, flying over 

 hot sunn 5'^ sand-banks at Coombe Wood. Since that period I have 

 frequently, but in vain, bought for the insect in the same locality, 



