1895.] . 39 



ON TWO APPARENTLY UNDESCRIBED BRITISH SPECIES OF 

 ANDRENID.E. 



BT R. C. L. PEEKINS, M. A. 



The two following species of Andrenidce appear to be undescribed, 

 but probably exist in various collections mixed with other allied species. 



Andeena ambigua, sp. n. 



(J — face with pale hairs, generally more or less mixed with black ones towards 

 the sides, those on the clypeus nearly white. Apex of labrum hardly einarginate, 

 mandibles simple at the base. Antenna; with the 2nd and 3rd joints of the flagellum 

 subequal in length. Thorax with brown hairs, paler at the sides and on the meta- 

 thorax. Basal segment of abdomen and the base of the 2nd with long fulvous hairs, 

 the rest with sparser decumbent pubescence ; the segments punctured at the base, 

 smooth, and shining along their apical margins ; legs with pale hairs ; abdomen 

 beneath with long suberect pubescence, the apical margins of the segments ciliated 

 with palo hairs. 



? — face with black pubescence, labrum hardly emarginate, clypeus somewhat 

 sparsely irregularly punctured, thorax as in the S but more densely clothed ; two 

 basal segments with bi-ight fulvous hairs, 3rd and 4th with paler and more decumbent 

 ones, apical segments with black hairs ; dorsal valve of 6th segment very finely and 

 closely punctured, depressed along the margins ; scopse dark above. 



This species is very closely allied to varians, Eossi, and helvola, 

 Linn., being somewhat intermediate between these species. It may, 

 however, be easily distinguished from the former by the greater length 

 of the 3rd joint of the flagellum in the (J, which, in varians, is much 

 shorter than the 2ud, and by the less closely and regularly punctured 

 clypeus of the ? ; from the latter it may be known by the simple 

 mandibles (without a tooth at the base) of the <^, and the black-haired 

 face of the ? . 



I caught both sexes of this species on Dartmoor, near Moreton- 

 Hampstead, on May 31st, 1S91, including a pair in coitu. A single J 

 was sent to me by Mr. C. G. Barrett from King's Lynn, Norfolk, in 

 1889, and placed amongst my series of varians. 



Halictus angusticeps, sp. n. 



Almost identical in form and sculpture with H.punciatissimus, .Schenck, having 

 the face similarly formed, much longer than wide. 



J— black, apex of clypeus, labrum and mandibles (except at extreme base and 

 apex) yellow ; flagellum pale beneath ; tarsi testaceous, generally more or less 

 obscure. Head, thorax and abdomen with grey pubescence ; head above the an- 

 tennae closely and distinctly punctured, decidedly more largely than in punctatissi- 

 mus, and the surface shining between the punctures; mesothorax also rather more 

 largely punctured and more shining. Abdomen distinctly and evenly ]3unctured all 

 over, even to its extreme base. Genitalia with the dorsal surface of the stipites at 



