232 HYMENOPTEKA. 



doubt, as they do not agree in two particulars with the descriptions of that species, 

 viz., the vertex has some punctures and the abdomen has only three yellow bands. The 

 head and thorax above are densely covered with long rufous hair, the pleurae and 

 breast more sparsely clothed with long cinereous hair; the mesonotum is strongly 

 punctured at the sides, and more sparsely in the centre; the scutellum and post- 

 scutellum are closely and strongly punctured, except in the middle; the median 

 segment is much more closely and finely punctured above than the rest of the thorax. 

 The basal segment of the abdomen bears long cinereous hair; the second and third 

 segments at the apex above are fringed with pale golden, the other segments with 

 black, hair; the ventral segments are fringed with silvery hair. The legs are black, 

 thickly covered with silvery or golden hair. The wings are fusco-violaceous, brilliantly 

 iridescent throughout, the costa and nervures deep black. The yellow abdominal bands 

 vary in shape, at least as regards the second and third : the first is usually entire, and 

 the second is the largest ; the second and third may take the form of one large band 

 incised in the middle, or of two somewhat triangular separate marks. 



In one specimen, from Tierra Colorada, the vertex is strongly punctured, except near 

 the ocelli ; there is a yellow mark on either side of the pronotum, and the hair on the 

 thorax is fuscous. In another example, from Jalisco, there are two yellow marks on 

 the pronotum, a large mark, as well as a minute one, on the scutellum, and a yellow 

 line on the apical margin of the fourth abdominal segment ; and the fifth segment is 

 fringed with pale fuscous, the sixth with deep golden, hair. 



The species varies from 15-25 millim. in length. 



11. Elis mexicana. (Tab. xil. fig. 14.) 



Nigra, capite et thorace nigro et cinereo-hirtis ; abdominis fasciis 3 flavis ; alis fusco-violaceis. § . 

 Long. 23-24 millim. 



Hab. Mexico, Amula in Guerrero 6000 feet (H. H. Smith), Guadalajara in Jalisco 

 (Edge). 



Head above the point of insertion of the antennas covered with long black, below it 

 with paler, hair ; the vertex strongly and closely punctured behind and round the eves, 

 more sparsely so in the middle; the clypeus strongly but sparsely punctured. The 

 pro- and mesonotum covered thickly with long black hair ; the median segment and 

 the pleurae bearing long cinereous hair. The mesonotum coarsely punctured, except 

 in the middle, where it is smooth and shining ; the scutellum strongly punctured 

 laterally. The median segment very closely punctured throughout, the punctures 

 being much smaller than those on the mesonotum, the sides rounded. Abdomen at 

 the base, on the ventral surface, and to a less extent in the middle of the back, bearing 

 long grey hair ; the apical segments with black hairs ; the segments fringed at the 

 apex with black hairs. Legs black, covered with long cinereous hair ; the spines on 



