igO FAMILIjE. (Apis. **. d. 2. /5.) 



Naso planiusculo, tuberculo munito ; Lahio antic^ 

 emarginato, setoso; Maxillis apice bidentatis; 

 j4ntennis subclavatis, pedicello globoso, apice ar- 

 ticulo primo eldngato, basi attenuate; Trunco 

 plerisque hirsute ; Alls subcoriaceis, coloratis ; 

 Tihiis posticis brevibus, scopa pollinifera vestitis ; 

 Plantis posticis elongatis, hirsutissimis ; Digitis ex 

 apice plantae provenientibus ; UnguicuUs bifidis ; 

 jihdomine oblongo, basi retuso, supra plerisque 

 glabriusculo^ lateribus hirsutis^ ano rotundato, 

 ventre planiusculo. 



Maris Oculi magni, ssepe approximati. Tarsi 

 tenuiores, miniis hirsuti. 



This subdivision, which contains Apis violacea, 

 Lin., and its affinities, may be known by the fol- 

 lowing peculiarities. The summits of the valvulae, 

 which are short, wide, and of a hard, corneous 

 substance, connive into the longitudinal section of 

 a cone, and form a strong arch over the tongue. 

 The head is rounded, the space between the eyes 

 is ample, the lip is strengthened by a tubercle, and 

 is emarginate before, and beset with numerous 

 bristles. The abdomen, in most, is hair)^ only on 

 its sides, rather convex above, and flattish under- 

 neath. The wings are coloured, often of a bril- 

 liant purple or violet, and usually of a substance 

 between coriaceous and membranous. Concern- 

 ing the proboscis of these insects, I am able to say 

 but little, except as to its exterior figure, since I 

 have had an opportunity of examining only one, 



that 



