106 MELITTA. (**. c.) 



frequens in fossis sabulosis collium Hogmagog 

 prope Cantabrigiam. Tota fiisco-nigra, abdomine 

 supra glabriusculo, nitcnte ; thoracc villo«!0 fulvo- 

 ferrugineo ; macula aloe marginali subfuscS. Si- 

 millima A. mellificce." All the species of this 

 family, at least so far as I am acquainted with them, 

 excavate cunicuU for their little nests ; and many 

 of them, and among the rest M. nitida, have at 

 lirst sight a considerable resemblance to the com- 

 mon hive bee; these circumstances occasion many 

 different insects to be mistaken for j4. cuniadaria. 

 Linneus has given no longer description of that in- 

 sect, and his definition of it will agree with so 

 many distinct species, that it is not to be wonder- 

 ed at, if this has generated errors. To prevent all 

 future mistakes and confusion with respect to this 

 insect, I shall give below a full description of it 

 drawn from the authentic specimens preserved in 

 the Linnean cabinet (^). 50 M 



(0 cuni- M. atra, grisescente-pubesccns; thorace I'ernigineo ; tibiis pos- 

 cuiaria. ^^^-^^ undique villosis ; abdomine hirsutulo, subovato, acuto. 



y//)ij cu7?icu/flria pubescens J thorace ferrugineo, abdo: 



mine fusco, pedibus undique villosis. 

 Lin. Si/st. Nal. ed. 12. n. 23. Fn. Suec. I69S. 



MUS. D. Smith Linnean. 



Long. Corp. Lin. 6|. 

 Jlal. in Europae terra sabulos^ sicciore, quam forami- 

 nibus plurimis parum remotis penetrat, et distinctae 

 innedificant plures. Siniillima J. mel/ijcce. Lin. 

 Obs. J. mellifvii' prirnu facie simillim'a, rcvera ta- 

 men plurimum diJhrt^ et hujus generis est. K. 



DESCR. 



