Insects. 4079 



mens which I have seen in cabinets, including my own four, are only 

 individuals of Pompilus pectinipes with the second transverse nervure 

 obsolete ; one example only in the collection of the late Mr. J. F. 

 Stephens being the true Aporus of Spinola. The characters, both 

 generic and specific, in Shuckard's Essay, belong to the variety of P. 

 pectinipes (crassicornis, Shuck.) ; the wing figured is also that of pecti- 

 nipes. On turning to Spinola's generic characters, the description of 

 the wing alone is quite decisive : the superior wing is described as 

 having one marginal, and two complete submarginal cells ; the third 

 being incomplete, the second submarginal cell receiving the first re- 

 current nervure, and the second recurrent nervure uniting with the 

 transverse nervure which divides the second from the third submargi- 

 nal cell. Such is Spinola's description ; and yet, both in Shuckard 

 and St. Fargeau, the second cell is described as receiving both the re- 

 current nervures : the relative proportion of the cells is also different. 

 Other characters are given, which place the matter beyond a doubt : 

 the form of the antennae, as w r ell as the oral organs, being most care- 

 fully described, and quite different from those of my supposed speci- 

 mens of Aporus. I strongly suspect the genus Evagetes of St. Fargeau 

 to be also the true Aporus of Spinola. The capture of this insect is 

 therefore an event of considerable importance, since it has thrown a 

 light on a genus hitherto misunderstood by many entomologists. 



Ammophila sabulosa, viatica, and lutaria. The last-named species 

 I never captured before ; it is apparently rare in this locality. I took 

 three males and two females. 



Larra Pompiliformis was very plentiful. 



Harpactus tumidus, scarce. 



Cerceris arenaria, ornata, and labiata. The latter species I had 

 previously always found rare. 1 have occasionally met with a speci- 

 men at Weybridge, and in parts of Hampshire, but always singly ; 

 here I captured about forty, including both sexes. What is its prey 

 I could not detect, neither could I find any spot where they were gre- 

 garious like C. ornata. I occasionally saw one on the sand-bank, but 

 most of my specimens were captured on the flowers of Achillea Mil- 

 lefolium. 



Scattered about on the waste are plants of Echium vulgare, to the 

 flowers of which the rare Megachile argentata pays its visits. I took 

 both sexes of this little bee. 



Many other rare Hymenoptera are probably to be found here at 

 different periods of the season ; sufficient however have, I trust, been 



