96 HYMENOPTERA. 



different periods of the season, would, I feel certain, amply 

 rejiay any one inclined to investigate it fully. On the 24th of 

 August, I there took specimens of the following Hymenoji- 

 tera: — Colletes succincta and C Daviesana ; Halictiis ru~ 

 hicundus, H. abdominalis and H. Jlavipes ; Andrena 

 piihesce?is, A. tridentata, A. Afzeliella and A. convex'ms- 

 cula ; Nomada solidaginis and N. alternata ; Epeolus va- 

 riegatus ; 3Iiscus campestris; Tachytes jjornpilifor'mis ; 

 Mimesa bicolor and Cer certs labiata. 



Note. — Since the observations (pp. 87, 88) on the species of PoUsfes 

 taken at Penzance were written, I have received two of the specimens, 

 which I have carefully compared with all the species with which I am 

 acquainted from North as well as from South America; the Cornwall 

 specimens do not quite agree with any known species, but most closely 

 resemble the Polistes higuttatns of Haliday ; they are, however, rather 

 larger, and have not the two yellow spots on the basal segment of the 

 abdomen which characterize that species; tlie thorax is entirely ferru- 

 ginous with the prothorax narrowly bordered, posteriorly, with yellow, 

 and one specimen has a transverse line on the post-scutellum, and two 

 lono-itudinal ones on the metathorax, yellow ; in P. higutlatiis the thorax 

 is black with the exception of the sides of the prothorax, which is ferru- 

 ginous. Under these circumstances I am inclined to v;ait the results 

 of a further search for specimens next season before I refer it to any 

 species either from North or South America, although I am inclined to 

 the belief of its being a variety either of the Polistes biguttatus, or of 

 P. versicolor from Brazil, a most abundant and also an extremely variable 

 species. If the insect is an importation, it is an extremely difficult 

 thing even to suggest the means by which it v/as conveyed to Penzance. 

 I trust the coining season will afford the means of clearing up that 

 wliich at present is involved in mystery ; the most satisfactory eluci- 

 dation would be the proof of its being an insect indigenous to CornwalL 



