8o COLORATION IN POLISTES. 



P. crinitas lineatus Fab. 



Worker. — Head ferruginous yellow, the region of the ocelli and an irregular line 

 under the antennae blackish ferruginous; antennae ferruginous yellow, the first 

 two joints blackish ferruginous, as well as the upper part of several of the middle 

 ones. Thorax ferruginous brown ; two longitudinal lines on the mesothorax, the 

 borders of the tegulse and prothorax, a mark under the wings, a line on the scu- 

 tellum, one on the postscutellum, and a scalloped mark bilobed at the top on each 

 side of the metathorax, all ferruginous yellow. Abdomen ferruginous brown, 

 fwith the terminal borders of the segments ferruginous yellow ; this border extend 

 orward on the side of the segments. Legs yellow, except the tips of the fenioras 

 and the outer ends of the middle and hind tibiae, which are black. Wings ferru- 

 ginous brown, with violet reflections. Length i6 mm. 



Hab. — America. 



P. aurifer Sauss. 



Female. — Black ; mandibles, clypeus, orbits, and a very open V-shaped mark on 

 the front yellow ; antennae orange ; the borders of the prothorax, a mark under 

 the wings, the tegulae, the anterior border of the scutellum and postscutellum and 

 two lines on the metathorax yellow. Abdomen yellow, base of the first two seg- 

 ments black, the black excavating the yellow in the middle and sometimes forming 

 there a design, the third occasionally black in the middle at its base. Legs black, 

 ends of femora, tibiae, and tarsi bright yellow. Wings having a general golden 

 tint or a ferruginous gray. Length 15 mm. 



Var. A. — End of the posterior tibiae black. 



Hab. — California, Colorado, Australia, Honolulu. 



P. fuscatus (Fab.). 



' ' Fuscous, spotted with ferruginous ; first segment of the abdomen with a yellow 

 margin, second with two ferruginous spots. Length and magnitude of P. annu- 

 laris ; antennae black, base ferruginous. Head fuscous, with the labium and man- 

 dibles ferruginous. Thorax fuscous, with a ferruginous line on each side in front. 

 Abdomen fuscous, the first segment with a yellow margin, second with a large ful- 

 vous spot on each side. Feet variegated." 



Hab. — America. 



P. fuscatus instabilis Sauss. 



Worker. — Insect dark red, a little rose colored ; base of the clypeus yellow ; 

 vertex around the ocelli black ; antennae black in the middle ; prothorax bordered, 

 its angles without spines ; underside of thorax and the sides of the metathorax and 

 mesothorax entirely black ; metathorax smooth, or almost smooth ; orbits often 

 yellowish ; the borders of the prothorax, a large mark under the wings, anterior 

 angles of the scutellum, postscutellum or only its anterior border, as well as two 

 lunate spots on the metathorax, sulphur yellow ; on each edge of the metathorax 

 on the sides, a yellow mark often connected with the mark on the posterior plate ; 

 teguke often yellowish ; base of the first two segments of the abdomen often black ; 

 terminal borders of the first, second, and third segments yellow. Legs black, ends 

 of the femora, tibiae and tarsi yellow or red, posterior tibiae black, except the base, 

 which is yellow. Wings of a uniform gray tint. Length 14 mm. 



Var A. — Mesothorax black, with two red marks ; metathorax entirely red. 



Var. B. — Thorax entirely black ; first segment of the abdomen reddish black, 

 bordered with yellow, the second red, its base black, its border glaucous yellow, 

 yellow on the edges, a little black on the front of the border, the others black ; 



