128 



" Adelotopu's RUBIGIN0SU8, Newmati. 



" Lccvis, niddissimux, ruhijiinonua, omnino concolor, ehjtra sub lenteforti suhtilissime 

 puncta. (Corp. long. "175 uuc. elytroium lat. '07 unc.) 



" Smooth, extremely shiuing, ferruginous and perfectly concolorous on every part 

 of the upper and under surface ; head rather large, convex, prone ; eyes large, distant, 

 black, prominent; prothorax very convex, very glahrous, its lateral margins slightly 

 dilated and recurved; scutellum rather large, conspicuous, triangular; elytra very 

 convex, parallel, the costs slightly dilated and recurved, the apex truncate, the disk 

 exhibiting a very slight appearance of striation. 



" This pretty little beetle certainly resemldes Mr. Westwood's Adelotopus apho- 

 dioides, described at p. 404 of the fifth volume of the new series of Gueriu's ' Revue 

 et Magasin de Zoologie.' There are specimens in the cabinet of the British Museum, 

 as well as in that of Mr. Waterhouse." 



Nesls of Hymenoptera from Port Natal. 



Mr. Smith exhihited some nests of Hyraenopterous insects collected by Herr 

 Guenzius at Port Natal, and read the following notes respecting them : — 



" I have the pleasure of exhibiting to the Society a number of nests of exotic Hy- 

 menoptera, collected by Herr Guenzius at Port Natal. This collection is rendered 

 exceedingly interesting, by each nest having specimens of the insects by which it was 

 constructed sent with it ; it also receives additional interest from the fact of all the 

 species being described ones. I have thought it desirable to give a reference to the 

 work in which each species is described, as well as a description of the nests themselves. 



" 1. Synagris calida, Vespa calida, Linn. Sijst. Nat. Vol. i. p. 952. The nest of 

 this insect is constructed of the red earth common to the neighbourhood of Port Natal ; 

 the form at the base is an irregular oval ; its length at its greatest diameter is nearly 

 three inches; the height of the nest is an inch and a half, its geueral form being 

 somewhat that of half an orange, having one side slightly elevated, forming the 

 entrance to the nest ; the bottom of the nest shows that it has been attached to a flat 

 surface ; only four cells are visible, all of which are empty ; in two of these were found 

 the remains of the corneous heads of some Lepidopterous larva ; the upper surface has 

 a hole opposite each of the empty cells, one being immediately under the larger 

 opening or entrance used by the parent insect: the other holes are a little smaller: 

 from these no doubt the insects made their escape : there is room for two more cells, 

 and such may possibly exist, but neither the under nor upper surface exhibit any 

 traces of them. 



"2. Nest of Synagris mirabilis, Gver. Voy. en Abyss, de Le Fevre, vi. Im. 

 p. 359, pi. 8, fig. 8. This nest is much smaller than that of S. calida, and is probably 

 in an unfinished state; its form is somewhat quadrate, with the angles rounded ; it 

 contains only two cells, each having, as in the other species, a separate outlet. This 

 nest is constructed of a diSereut-coloured earth, being of the ordinary mud-colour. It 

 is exceedingly interesting to find that the habits of this genus of wasps is similar to 

 that of Odynerus. I have in my possession a nest of O. parietinus formed of earth 

 in a similar manner. 



" 3. The nest of Eumcncs tinctor, Christ. Ilym. This is a very abundant and 



