104 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 
“The size alone would serve to distinguish this little bee 
from its congeners; but it is subject to very considerable 
variety. The females have sometimes the extreme base, as 
well as the apex of the abdomen, black, and the head occa- 
sionally subquadrate; the legs are sometimes nearly black. 
The males vary much in the degree of colouring in the legs: 
specimens occur with their feet testaceous-red ; the abdomen 
also varies much in its markings. I formerly considered it to 
constitute two species; but I have satisfied myself that it is 
only avariable insect. In the Linnean Cabinet is the authentic 
specimen of the Sphex ephippia of Linneus,—one of the 
varieties of this insect. The M. divisa of Kirby is a dark 
example of the male, having the antenne black; but they 
are usually more or less fulvous beneath; but in truth it is 
almost impossible to decide whether the latter variety be not 
in reality a very minute male of 8S. gibbus.”—‘ Calalogue of 
Bees, p. 20. 
The fifth species is described by Mr. Smith, under the 
name of S. fuscipennis, which is said to have been found by 
Dr. Leach at Kingsbridge, in Devonshire. 
EpWARD NEWMAN. 
Larve Preserving. By W. EK. Suarp, Esq. 
To the systematic entomologist who makes a collection of 
any special group of insects, not so much from a mere love of 
acquisition of specimens, or ambition to surpass rival collectors, 
but who looks upon it as an illustration of the various groups, 
families and genera into which the insect world is divided, it 
must ever cause regret that this should only be attainable 
with complete satisfaction in the imago state. In all orders 
of insects those typical characteristics which unite or divide 
species into genera and families are displayed in many cases 
as much in those stages which we must consider as incom- 
plete, as in the imago form. Bearing this in mind the 
methodical collector of insects should exhibit not only the 
imagos of a species, but also side by side with these the 
unattractive larva from which they sprang, the pupa form and 
home in which they underwent their metamorphosis, and 
even the egg from which they were first hatched; and these 
