8 



The AndrenidcR were very scarce, except perhaps during May, when 

 many of the commoner species might have been observed industriously 

 providing for their young on the Tollcross Sandhills ; and I was par- 

 ticularly interested in watching the habits of Specodes rufescens, which 

 constructs its nest in the same manner as its neighbour, Andrena 

 albicans ; but the genus to which it belongs had been formerly con- 

 sidered parasitic, through their want of pollenigerous organs. 



One morning, in a place on the Sandhills where the bees' nests are 

 very thick together, 1 was surprised to see a small Andrena going 

 bobbing about from nest to nest as if it did not know its own ; but it 

 discovered it at last, and popped inside. The sun at the time was very 

 bright. 



The Ants did not appear to be one whit less numerous than on 

 previous years. I was not a little surprised to discover a nest of a 

 common species among the wet sphagnum in Poasil Marsh, in a place 

 which certainly was never dry the whole season, and must occasionally 

 have been very wet indeed. The nest differed in nowise from those 

 found in the fields, containing galleries as well as larvae and pupae ; but 

 how they managed to come to maturity, or how these usually wise 

 insects could make their nest in such an uncongenial spot, is more than 

 I can understand. In the nest of another species I was much pleased 

 to find a colony of Aphides located : the Aphides belonged to a species 

 which I have found often sucking the roots of grasses. 



Wasps were not abundant. Two or three nests of Vespa vulgaris 

 were noticed between Carmyle and Kenmuir. The other species found 

 were, V. rufa, at Possil and Tollcross ; V. sylvestris, near Strathblane. 

 The Sand- wasps were nowhere. 



The only representative of the Chrysidse captured, was Omalus cceruleus, 

 Dbm., which was taken near Paisley. 



The Ichneunio?iidce, Proctotrupidce, and Chalcididce, were very feebly 

 represented. Regarding the transformations of the Chalcididce, I have 

 observed that they have two kinds of pupae, which differ principally 

 in the manner in which they are enveloped when in that condition. The 

 one form I have only found in hard woody galls, which they do not 

 leave vintil the perfect state is reached, and are invested merely in a 

 thin transparent pellicle, which is almost invisible when cast off", like 

 the pupae of the Gynipidce, ; while the other is enclosed in a thick, hard, 

 black skin, like the obtected chrysalis of a moth, to which they have a 

 very close resemblance indeed ; and when the chalcis quits this case, it 

 remains hard and firm, and still retaining the shape of the limbs. This 



