2550 Insects. 



brought out the following Catalogue, which I am well aware is open to very grave 

 objections, on the score that, in our present state of ignorance on the subject, it is 

 imprudent to describe as new so many species ; and I have no doubt the errors in sy- 

 nonymy will be found neither few nor far between. There is no doubt that a publi- 

 cation, however elaborate, in which there is any amount of error, does some harm ; 

 but were we to refrain from writing till we were certain of not committing error, we 

 should never progress ; and the question becomes merely one of degree, whether the 

 publication does more good than harm, or more harm than good." 



On the Habits and Economy of various Species of British Fossorial Hymenoptera. 

 — So little is known of the habits of many of the species of this interesting division 

 of the aculeate Hymenoptera, that a record of the most minute fact is extremely de- 

 sirable ; for although it may be incomplete and unsatisfactory in itself, it may serve 

 as a clew to other observers, who, being more fortunate, and finding Nature in a more 

 communicative mood, may, by these seemingly trifling records, find the way to the 

 very heart of her mystery : with these objects in view I send you a series of observa- 

 tions, taking the genera and species as arranged by Mr. W. E. Shuckard in his ela- 

 borate and beautiful essay on this tribe of insects. 



Melhoca ichneumonides. I suspect this insect to be parasitic upon the genus 

 Pompilus, having observed a female pass in and out of the burrow of P. viaticus, and, 

 on the Pompilus emerging, re-enter and remain some minutes in the nest. 



Tiphia femorata. This insect is also probably parasitical. In the month of August, 

 1846, at Birch Wood, Kent, on turning up the droppings of horses and cows, in 

 search of Coleoptera, I was surprised to find, under those which were dried up by the 

 sun, numerous females of this species : one or two I found with only their heads pro- 

 truding from burrows formed either by themselves or by some species of Aphodius, 

 most probably the latter. 



Sapyga punctata. This insect I observed in some numbers, in the summer of 

 1846, entering burrows in a dry sand-bank, — some conveying larvae of Lepidoptera. 

 I secured the contents of several cells, and bred two specimens of Sapyga from them. 

 When full fed they form a brown, oval cocoon, of a tough consistency. 



Pompilus affinis. I have detected this rare species with its prey, consisting of a 

 large species of black spider. 



Ammophila sabulosa. I have, on innumerable occasions, observed this insect with 

 its prey, — a Lepidopterous larva, — but never as recorded by Mr. Shuckard, with spi- 

 ders. Ammophila, according to Mr. Shuckard, walks backwards, dragging its prey 

 with its mandibles : this is the case when the insect gets near to its burrow, but when 

 at some distance it holds the caterpillar with its mandibles, and clasps it also with its 

 intermediate legs, walking in a ludicrous manner upon the anterior and posterior legs. 

 Usually dropping its prey a few inches from its burrow, it enters first to see that all 

 is right ; it then seizes its prey with its mandibles, and drags it in as described. 



Miscus campestris. This local insect has precisely the same habit as the pre- 

 ceding. 



Tachytes unicolor. This species I have observed at Weybridge, conveying a spe- 

 cies of Orthoptera belonging to the genus Acridium. 



