348 T. D. A. COCKERELL. 



4. A large patch of short moss-like bright ochraceous hair on each side of meso- 



thorax (Australia) P. humeroMiiS (Sm.) 



No such patches on mesothorax (New Zealand) P. confusus (Ckll.). 



5. Apex of abdomen with bright red hair 6. 



Apex of abdomen with darker or black hair. 7. 



6. Stigma dark brownish (New Zealand) I*. Iiirt ipes (Sm.). 



Stigma light yellowish or honey color. 



P. fulvescens (Liamnrocollvtew fulves<*eus Sm.) 

 { fulvescens seems to be only a variety of hirtipes.) 



7. Abdomen dark purplish tinged ; rather smaller (New Zealand). 



P. vestitus (Sm.)- 

 Abdomen greenish tinged; rather larger; hind spur minutely ciliate (New 



Zealand) P. metallicus (Sm.). 



Abdomen black ; larger than vestitus (New Zealand). . . -P. holloui (Ckll.). 



Table D. — Species of Leioproctus (Type imitatus). 



Abdomen red, like that of P. rubellus; a dense black apical fimbria; first r. n. 

 joining second s. m. much before its middle ; second r. n. joining third 

 s. m. before its end ; area with a strong transverse keel (Australia). 



P. fimbria! us (Sm.). 

 (P. fimbriates has essentially the venation of P. confusus, except that the 

 stigma is obsolete, whereas in confusus it is narrow but fairly well devel- 

 oped ; it is also fairly well developed in imitatus.)* 



Abdomen not red 1. 



1. Abdomen, also head and thorax, dark blue ; caudal fimbria bright orange-ful- 

 vous; first r. n. joins second s. m. much before its middle: size me- 

 dium ; area of metathorax shining P. elegans (Sm.). 



Abdomen strongly green ; area smooth and shining; runs in the Dasycolletes 

 table straight to metallicus, differs by its larger size (over 13 mm. long), 

 darker wings, and hair on hind tibiae white on inner and black on 

 outer side, the colors sharply contrasting uniformly paleish in metal- 

 licus) (Swan R.) P. vigilant* (Sm.). 



Abdomen faintly asneous or purplish ; first r. n. joining second s. m. at mid- 

 dle; area not transversely striate (New Zealand). 



P. imitatus (Sm.). 



P. frontalis (Leioproctus frontalis) I have not seen. There are 

 two specimens marked " probably frontalis," which represent a spe- 

 cies near to P. purpureus, but larger. It does not seem likely that 

 they are the real frontalis, as the abdomen shows no sign of green. 



It will be seen from the characters cited in the tables that the so- 

 called genera include most diverse species, and I find myself unable 

 to recognize any common bond between those of each group, which 

 would justify their generic segregation. 



* The original description of P. fimbriates gives no locality, but the specimen 

 is labelled Australia. A male placed with fimbriates in the Museum does not 

 belong to it, but is an Halictus. 



