XV111. THE ACULEATE HYMENOPTERA OF MID-SOLWAY. 



dandelion, very early in spring, the females of H. rubicundus are pretty 

 sure to be seen. The males, as is the case with this sex throughout the 

 genus, do not put in an appearance till mid-summer, and on fine 

 autumnal days they are very abundant on ragwort and other late 

 flowering plants. H. leucozonius has been taken near Moffat, and so also 

 has H. quadrinotata, both by the late Rev. W. Little. H. laevigatus is a 

 very scarce member of the genus ; it has been taken at several places in 

 Troqueer. H. cylindrirus and H. albipes are very closely related ; both 

 species are very abundant, and their colonies may be seen on almost 

 every dry pathway. H. subfasciatus seems rather scarce ; it has been 

 taken on ragwort. H. villosulus is very commonly found on dandelion 

 and hawkweed flowers. H. nitidiusculus is a common species, generally 

 found at the flowers of weeds in waste places in company with H. Smeath- 

 manellus. H. minutus, H. leucopus, and H. morio are very small species 

 foundin some abundance andofgeneral distribution. Andrenais thelargest 

 genus of British bees, numbering, according to the catalogue of Mr E. 

 Saunders, no less than forty-eight native species. Many of them are 

 as " like as two peas," and it is in such cases almost hopeless for the 

 novice to attempt to name his captures. By and bye, however, he will 

 begin to see and appreciate their differences, and when the collector 

 once learns to discriminate between the more closely allied species he 

 will find their study a very fascinating pursuit. Andrena albicans is 

 common everywhere, frequenting dandelion and chickweed flowers. 

 The males have a special preference for the flowers of Mahonia 

 aquifolium in shrubberies. A. trimmerana is an interesting species that 

 builds its nests in old walls, especially where the lime is crumbling out 

 from betwixt the stones. In such places it is not infrequent in May. 

 A. Clarkella is a particularly pretty species found early in April as a rule, 

 but occasionally even in March. I have taken it in several localities, 

 making its burrows on sandy pathways. A. nigro-aenea has been cap- 

 tured only once, when I took a specimen at Mabie on willow catkins in 

 April. Both forms of A. gwynana occur very freely, the var. bicolor be- 

 ing very partial to flowers of the harebell. I have taken one or two 

 specimens of A. lapponica. This species was first captured in Britain, 

 at Kirkpatr.ick-Juxta, by the late Rev. W. Little. A. varians seems to be 

 rather scarce. A. fucata is common in Lochar Moss, and some other 

 localities. Only a few individuals of A. nigriceps have been captured at 

 some localities on the Galloway side of the Nith. A. denticulata, though 

 apparently a rare species in Britain, is very common here. One speci- 

 men of A. tridentata has been taken. At certain spots there are immense 

 colonies of A. albicrus. I know no other of the wild bees that is found 

 in our district in such multitudes. One such place is on the Moss, just 

 behind Douievale House. A. coitana is a small species that is found 

 everywhere. A. minutula is another species equally common, its var. 

 parvula being found in about equal numbers. A. nana is another of 

 the small species that may be captured in some seasons in great abun- 

 dance, A. afzeliella occurs freely near Craigs, and the last on our list of 



