PROSOPIS. 193 



3. annularis, Kirby, $ ? . 2^-3 Hues. 



4. liyalinata, Smith, $ ? . 2-3 lines. 



5. signata, Panzer, $ ? . 3-3 \ lines. (Plate I. 



fig. 2 ? .) 

 signata, Kirby. 



6. cornuta, Kirby, $ ? . 3-3j lines. 



7. varipes, Sm., $ ? . H lines. 



8. variegata, Fab., ^ ? . 2-3 lines. 



GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 



This genus is named from TrpocrcoTri?, apparently in 

 allusion to its seemingly masked face, most of the species 

 having yellow markings more or less conspicuous upon 

 the face. 



It is the least pubescent of any of the bees, even 

 less so than those confirmed parasites, the genera No- 

 mada and Stelis, thus further tending to corroborate its 

 apparently parasitical habits, for none of the truly polli- 

 nigerous bees are so destitute of hair. The ground- 

 colour of the species is intensely black, variously deco- 

 rated on the face, thorax, and legs, with markings of 

 different intensities of yellow; but one of our species, 

 the P. variegata, is also gaily marked with red. Indeed 

 exotic species, and especially those of warm climates, 

 are often very gay insects. 



They have usually been considered as parasitical in- 

 sects, from their being unfurnished with the customarv 



* t> 



apparatus of hair upon the posterior legs, with which 

 pollinigerous insects are generally so amply provided. 

 In contradiction to their parasitism, it is asserted that 

 they have been repeatedly bred from bramble sticks ; 

 this circumstance is no proof of the fact of their not 



o 



