MELITTA. (**. c.) 237 



scuriores, nervis piceis. Pedes fusco-pilosi, 

 certo tamen situ pallescunt pili. Femornm 

 barba albida. Tibiae posticae scopd fusc^ un- 

 dique obsitae. 

 Abdomen subelllpticum, tergo depressiusculo^ 

 pilis brevissimis vix conspicuis, nigricantibus 

 consito, basi pallido-villoso, segmentis tribus 

 interraediis margine tomentoso-albis. Ani 

 Fimbria fuscescens. Venter convexus, niti- 

 dus, segmentis albido-ciliatis. 



Tbis insect and the preceding are liable to be 

 confounded, since, upon a cursory view, there ap- 

 pears to be very little difference between them ; 

 but if they be more closely examined, they will be 

 found very distinct. The antennae of M.fuscipes 

 are entirely black, except only the under side of 

 the two last joints ; its head is less hairy, and the 

 hairs of the legs, and the scopa, which in the pre- 

 sent family, in that respect, are not subject to vary, 

 are brown. The vertex, in both these insects, is 

 distinguished by a pale downy spot on each side 

 adjoining to the eyes, scarcely to be discovered 

 without the assistance of a magnifier, which seems 

 designed to prevent the antennas ii-om receiving 

 injury by friction : a circumstance which is ob- 

 servable in many other species. 



76. M. atra, pallido-subvillosa ; abdomine segmen- Lhierdhx 

 lis margine albidis ; thoracis disco subpiloso, 

 nigro. 



k4 MUS. 



