APIS. (^*. d. 2. «.) 303 



appears to be a Bombinalrix, and I think repre- 

 sents one that I shall hereafter describe: his -^. 

 rii/ipes is the true u4. retusa. Under the same 

 name Miller, in the MSS. so often quoted by me, 

 has noticed our j4pis\ to his definition, inserted 

 amongst the synonyms, he adds this short descrip- 

 tion. " Tibiae tarsique postici rufo vellere extus 

 hirsuti." Ray appears to have described this bee 

 twice, but as this may seem too bold an assertion 

 to hazard with respect to a writer of his acknow- 

 ledged accuracy, I shall assign my reasons at large 

 for being of that opinion. The description he 

 gives of his Bomhylius, n. 4. so exactly suits our 

 insect, that I think no one will deny them to be 

 synonymous; the doubt will be attached to the 

 other which I have quoted, viz. his A. sylvestris 

 muraria nigra. His description of this, " Tota 

 nigra est, corpore breviusculo, cruribus duntaxat 

 postremis obscuro aurantii colore rubentibus," will 

 suit our insect very well; but it is not so much 

 upon this that I ground my opinion, as the follow- 

 ing circumstance. This illustrious author informs 

 us, that it makes its nest in walls and banks, and 

 that it abounds at Kilby, near Hill Morton, in 

 Northamptonshire (y). Now, in the beginning of 

 July, 1797? in company with Mr. Marsham, at 

 Wandsford and UfFord, in the northern part of the 

 same county, I discovered A. retusa in the great- 

 est abundance, frequenting the walls made of the 

 (/) Hist. Ins. p. 243. 



stone 



