1880.] 397 [Patton. 
flowers of Asclepias. But the insect observed by Mr. V. T. Cham- 
bers, and a figure of the tarsus of which, with the attached pollinia 
of Aselepias, was published in the American Naturalist, vol. i, p. 
105, and in the Guide to the Study of Insects, p. 165, was incor- 
rectly referred to T'achytes by Dr. A. S. Packard, Jr. Indeed, that 
figure bears no resemblance to the tarsus of Tachyies, but represents 
tolerably well the tarsus of a Sphez, an insect of a different fam- 
ily. 
So quick are these insects in their motions, and so watchful are 
they that their capture is difficult. However stealthily they are 
approached while resting on the flowers, their green eyes are sure to 
face the intruder, and the least suspicious act sends them circling in 
the air, or off in an exceedingly rapid flight. 
NoTES ON THE PHILANTHINAE. By W. H. Patron. 
Male Philanthinae are peculiar for having upon the apical margin 
of the lateral lobes of the clypeus, a fringe of hairs which may be 
known as the “ moustache.” In Philanthus the outer hairs of the 
fringe are long and silky, and are appressed to the clypeus, being 
directed towards the median line, or, so to speak, combed towards 
the parting. It may be that these hairs can be raised at the will of 
the insect. In Aphilanthops, Eucerceris and Cerceris this fringe is 
shorter and erect, and in many specimens of the last named genus, 
the hairs are so closely set that they form what appears to bea 
chitinous lobe slightly narrowed towards the end, and with its apical 
border emarginate. This appearance may be due to some oper- 
ation performed by the insect, and it may be that these dandies 
‘* wax ’’ their moustache. In none of the Aphilanthops or Eucer- 
ceris examined have I seen this waxed appearance. In some species 
the fringe is not so well developed as in others, but in all it isa 
prominent character, although in a few, as for instance the species 
of Aphilanthops, it is not very distinct because of the presence of 
other pubesence upon the face. When the moustache is moistened 
with honey it becomes darker in color. Although the moustache of 
Philanthus is fivured by Savigny in Napoleon's Hgypt, it does not ap- 
pear to have been described by any author. ‘The fringe on the clypeus 
of Cerceris has been noticed before, but by Saussure it has sometimes 
been described as a “ lobe ’’ of the clypeus. 
