APIARI.E. 143 



short and sometimes moniliform. Sphecodes dichroa Harris is 

 our most common species. Mr. F. Smitli, from direct observa- 

 tion, states that this genus builds cells, though earlier authors 

 have stated that it is parasitic on Ilalictus and Andrena. 



Prosopis is generally yellow on the face, and is "less pubes- 

 cent than any of the bees." The tongue is broad, subemar- 

 ginate, the paragiosste reach a little beyond the tongue ; the 

 labial palpi are as long as the tongue, while there are two sub- 

 costal cells in the fore wings. Smith states that the genus is 

 not parasitical as formerly supposed, as he has "repeatedly 

 bred them " from cells laid in a regular order in the hollow of 

 bramble stems. Mr. S. Saunders has also raised them in Alba- 

 nia where "they construct their cells in bramble sticks (which 

 they bore in the same manner as Colletes) with a thin transpa- 

 rent membrane, calculated for holding semi-liquid honey, which 

 they store up for their young. The species are much attacked 

 by Stylops." Like Sphecodes and Ceratina, this genus, accord- 

 ing to Smith, is unprovided with poUenigerous organs. We 

 have several species in this country of which P. affinis Smith, 

 and P. eUiptica Kirby, are found northward. The habits of 

 our species are not known. 



AugocJdora comprises beautiful shining metallic green spe- 

 cies, very commonly met with. The thorax is globose, and 

 the anterior wings have one marginal and three submarginal 

 cells ; the first submarginal cell as long as the second and third 

 united. AugocJdora purus Smith is a small, green, rather 

 common species. Mr. J. H. Emerton has found its nests in Sa- 

 lem, near those of Andrena. The mouth of the hole opened 

 under a stone, and was built up so as to form a tube of sand 

 (Plate 5, Fig. 1). The burrow on the 28th of June was four 

 inches deep. 



Andrena is a genus of great extent, and the species are often 

 difficult to distinguish. The lanceolate tongue is moderately 

 long, and the paraglossse are half as long as the tongue itself, 

 while the six-jointed maxillary palpi are longer than the maxillae 

 themselves. The wings have three subcostal cells, with the 

 rudiments of a fourth one ; the second is squarish, and the 

 third receives a recurrent nervure near the middle. The pos- 

 terior legs " have a long curled lock upon the trochanter be- 



