5028 Entomological Society. 



somewhat saddle-shaped testaceous mark : head, prothorax and elytra minutely and 

 regularly punctured ; head prone, deeply immersed in the prothorax ; labrum rounded 

 and much produced, cheeks enormously developed; prothorax much broader than 

 long, slightly broader than elytra, its anterior margin excavated to receive the head, 

 and produced into an obtuse teeth on each side of it, its lateral margins much dilated 

 and recurved; scutellum very minute; sides of elytra parallel, slightly recurved, apex 

 truncate, the corners rounded. 



" Examples of this insect, which, when its mouth is examined, will probably form 

 a new genus, are in the cabinet of the British Museum, as well as in that of Mr. 

 Waterhouse. 



" Adelotopus rubiginosus, Newman. 



" Lcevis, nitidissimus, rubiginosus, omnino concolor, elytra sub lenteforti subtilissime 

 puncta. (Corp. long. *175 unc. elytrorum lat. '07 unc.) 



"Smooth, extremely shining, 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 glabrous, 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 resembles Mr. Westwood's Adelotopus apho- 

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

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



as well as in that of Mr. Waterhouse." 



i 



Nests of Hymenoptera from Port Natal. 



Mr. Smith exhibited some nests of Hymenopterous 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. Syst. 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 general 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 i 

 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. 



