250 [November, 



HALICTUS FULVICORNIS, Kieb., 

 DISTINCT FROM II. FREYGESSNESI, = SUBFASCIATUS, Ntl. 



BY EDWARD SAUNDERS, F.R.S., &c. 



Herr J. D. Alfken, in the Abb. Nat. Ver. Bremen, 1904, pp. 69 

 et seq., divides up our well known H. suhfasciatus into two species, 

 and bas pointed out very clearly tbeir cbaracteristic features. They 

 are exceedingly closely allied, but I think there is no doubt that they 

 are distinct. Ilerr Alt'ken has for some time past studied this genus 

 specially, and we are indebted to him for many valuable corrections 

 in synonymy, &c., particularly among the many species described by 

 Schenck, whose collection has been under his inspection, so that he 

 has been able to form his opinions from the actual types. 



In the case before us at the moment we have unfortunately to 

 introduce two new names into our list, as Alfken finds that the name 

 " s«<4/fl'sciV/^;A' " was pre-occu pied when Nylander used it in 184-8 by 

 the suhfasciatus^ ImhofE (1832), which latter proves to be an older 

 name for vulphius, Nyl., so that he has been obliged to reject our 

 familiar name of suhfasciatus, and has adopted that of freygessneri, in 

 honour of the well known Swiss Entomologist. 



Our two species, fulvicornis, Kirb., = suhfasciatus, Smith, E. 

 Saund. (partim), and freygessneri, Alfk., = suhfasciatus, Smith, E. 

 Saund. (partim), may be thus distinguished: — 



H. FULVICORNIS, Kirb. 



^ . Antennae darker beneath (dark testaceous) ; face distinctly wider, conspicu- 

 ous spots of white pubescence at the base of the 2nd and 3rd abdominal segments, 

 posterior tarsi narrower, the 2nd joint decidedly longer than wide ; genital armature 

 testaceous-red. 



? . Face shorter, propodcal area with the rugosities more pronounced and more 

 clearly defined, abdominal segments finely but distinctly punctured at the base, 

 lateral pubescent spots of the 2nd and 3rd well defined, posterior margins widely 

 testaceous. 



H. FREYGESSNERI, Alfk. 



cj . Flagellum of antennco paler beneath (very pale testaceous from the 2nd 

 joint), the contrast between the 1st and 2nd very strong; face decidedly narrower 

 than in fulvicornis, only slight indications of the basal spots on the 2nd and 3rd 

 abdominal segments ; posterior tarsi wide, 2nd joint as wide as long ; genital arma- 

 ture dark bi'own. 



? . Face narrower, propodcal area smoother, i. e., with the rugosities less 

 defined ; abdominal Begments impunctate or nearly so at the base ; basal pubescent 

 spots of the 2nd scarcely indicated, apical margins of the segments only very 

 narrowly dark testaceous. 



