THE FOSSORS OR DIGGERS 23 



be more or less variegated with yellow spots on 

 the head and thorax, but as a general rule all 

 our species fall into one or other of these colour 

 schemes. The females of some of our sand fre- 

 quenting species have beautiful combs on their 

 front feet, each j oint of the tarsi having one or more 

 long spines on its external side (figs. 3 and 4). 



FIG. 3. FIG. 4. 



These are of importance to them in their burrow- 

 ing, as they enable them to move with one kick 

 of their front leg a considerable amount of the 

 dry sand in which they make their nests. 

 Although sandy commons, etc., are the resort 

 of many fossors, others may be found burrowing 

 in wood or in hard pathways or banks; in fact, 

 like most other insects, some of their members 

 may be found almost anywhere. 



