186 PHILANTHUS. 



Head large, wider than the thorax, suhorbiculate ; eyes lateral, 

 and slightly eraarginatc within ; antenna? inserted above the 

 elypeus in the middle of the face, not approximate ; the clypeus 

 trilobate ; the mandibles acute at their apex. Thorax ovate, the 

 metathorax obtusely rounded ; the anterior wings with one nar- 

 row, elongate, marginal cell and three submarginal cells; the 

 second submarginal half the length of the first and narrowed 

 towards the marginal, receiving the first recurrent nervure in the 

 middle; the third submarginal narrowed half its width, towards 

 the marginal; the legs stout and spinose, the anterior tarsi 

 strongly ciliated ; the abdomen ovate, with the margins of the 

 segments slightly depressed. 



Of this fine genus we have but one British representative, 

 and that has only occurred in one or two localities. The genus 

 is, however, one of great extent, and species are found in most 

 parts of the world. At the time of the publication of Shuckard's 

 Essay in 1837, the P. triangulum was considered one of the 

 rarest of the fossorial tribe ; and in the work alluded to we find 

 the observation, " I suspect it is extremely local ; but when its 

 metropolis shall be discovered, it will be taken abundantly." 

 Fourteen years subsequent to this, being on an entomological 

 visit to the Isle of Wight, 1 discovered the metropolis in San- 

 down Bay. It is not surprising that the author of the Essay 

 should observe, "I expect it is a very bold insect;" its large 

 head, eyes, and mandibles give it a bold and threatening look, 

 so that any one, unacquainted with its manner, would be cautious 

 in capturing it ; for this, however, there is no occasion, as it is 

 impossible to provoke it to use its sting ; I captured great 

 numbers with my fingers. The prey of the females is various — 

 Andrena fulvicrus, Halictus zonatus, or more frequently Apis 

 mellifica. I should observe, that the two former insects were 

 principally preyed upon by the Philanthi which burrowed in the 

 slopes of the Bay ; but on the top of the cliffs the Andrenidse 

 were rare, whilst Apis was in great numbers on the flowers of 

 the red clover ; it therefore appears that the species which is 

 plentiful near their burrows is preyed upon, as either is equally 

 adapted to their purpose. What number of Bees serve for the 

 nourishment of a single Philanthus, I did not ascertain ; but, cer- 

 tainly, more would be required of H. zonatus than of A. mellifica, 

 the former being a much smaller insect than the latter. 



