IIYMENOFTEHA-ACULEATA. 379 



C ercer is, Fab. — The species comprising this genus are gre- 

 garious, and form tunnels in the ground ; some, 

 as C. armaria, preferring loose sand, and others, 

 as C. interrupta, choosing hard trodden pathways. 

 The prey is various, according to specijs ; wild 

 bees, Halicti and occasionally Andrenidce, are 

 stored up by C. ornata, and different kinds of 

 beetles by C. arenaria (Curculionidai), C. inter- 

 rupta (Apionidce) and C. labiata (Halticidce). 

 C. arenaria, Linn. — Formerly common on the Cheshire 

 sandhills, B.C., but not observed there during 

 recent years, though still abundant on the North 

 Wales coast. 



Oxybelus, Latr. — The females make their burrows in sandy 

 places, and provision their cells with certain 

 Diptera, some of which the various species mimic 

 strongly both in form and in action. 

 0. uniglumis, Linn. — Abundant, burrowing in loose 

 sand, on Cheshire coast. Extends northward to 

 Southport, B.C. Inland also at Bowden, B.C., 

 and at Eock Ferry, where a specimen nearly 

 black once taken, J.T.Gr. 

 0. mucronatus, Fab. — argentatus, Curt. — ferox, Shuck. — 

 This rare and beautiful species was taken on the 

 Cheshire sandhills, opposite Liverpool, by Mr. 

 Matthews prior to 1836 (v. Schuckard's 

 " Fossorial Hymenoptera.") The locality has 

 since been built over. It was also captured on 

 Wallasey sandhills more recently, B.C., but does 

 not appear to survive there now. It still occurs 

 on the North Wales coast. 



Crnhro, Fab. — This large genus contains species with very 

 various places of nidification. Some form 

 burrows in sandy banks (C. varius, wfntma>h, 



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