er 
76 Rev. F. D. Morice oz 
characters to distinguish them, and it may be that some 
which I take to belong to the above 2 2 are really f f of 
niveatus. But comparing them with Egyptian f ¢ of 
niveatus determined by Herr Kohl, I notice that, like the 
2 9, they have certainly a thinner and less brilliant silvery 
pubescence, allowing the sculpture of the very slightly 
impressed scutellum and the transversely rugulose pro- 
podeum to be seen quite clearly, whereas in Egyptian 
niveatus the sculpture is wholly concealed. In the details 
of the alar neuration (form of 83rd cubital cell, position of 
recurrent nerves, etc.) they differ exceedingly, and this 
makes me doubt whether they may not be a mixture of 
two different species. But the 2? 2 must, I think, be 
distinct from niveatus; and they certainly are not nigro- 
pectinatus, in spite of their dusky pecten, having a far 
longer petiole and an altogether less brilliant appearance, 
to say nothing of their smaller size. Some of Mr. Katon’s 
specimens are darker than my own, but this, I think, is 
accidental—probably due to cyanide. 
1 @. Biskra, on Ammi visnaga, 28. v, 94. A. E. E. 
2 9. Biskra, visiting Nitraria tridentata and Tamaria, 
25, vand (28, 7 pen, Ee 
1 9. Biskra, on Tamarix, 29. iv, 97. A. E. E. 
192. Biskra, on Echinops spinosus, 7. v 97. A. E. E. 
46,02 2. Biskra, favto Oov1, 9S. e, Hey IMs 
SPHEX (CALOSPHEX) NIGROPECTINATUS, Tasch. 
1 §. Biskra, 6. vi, 98. F. D. M. 
SPHEX AFER, Lep. (?) 
2¢ 24,329. Biskra, on Ammi visnaza, 29. v, 94 and 15. 
v to 22. vi, Oi AC. 
ak aS eo ? 9. Biskra, on Hehinops spinosus, 6-10. v, 97. 
ran 4 ee 3 2 oO) Biskta.. 2. . NC 
The f f are all black; in the ? 9, agreeably to Lepel- 
letier’s description, the abdomen is largely red. I find in 
them all the characters given by Lepelletier, and this, 
coupled with their habitat, and their enormous size (some 
quite 36 mm. long), makes me feel sure that they are the 
species he was describing. Mr. Saunders at one time 
called them ¢rzstis, Kohl, and the f f certainly agree with 
the description of that species. But the dimensions of 
