HYMENOPTERA. 61 



20. MegacJiile cinyras, sp. nov. 



Long. 15 — 16 mm. 



Hah. Minikoi, Laccadives. 



Belongs to Bingham's Section " F. Abdomen with transverse bands on all segments 

 above of white pubescence" (Hym. of India, p. 472), in which it would form a new section : 

 Pollen-brush white, black at the apex. 



Head closely and rather coarsely punctured ; the lower part of the face and the middle 

 of the clypeus broadly and irregularly smooth and shining. Mandibles closely and strongly 

 punctured ; the apical tooth is bluntly rounded ; the second shorter and more triangular 

 in shape, but not sharply pointed at the ape.x ; next to it is a rounded depression, followed 

 by a longer, straigliter one. Thorax closely and strongly punctured and without any striations ; 

 the hair above is rufous, on the upper part of the pleurae fulvous ; on the lower white. 

 The hair on outer side of the legs is white, on the inner rufous. The basal half of the 

 wings is fulvous ; the apical smoky, with a violaceous tinge. The abdominal segments are 

 fringed with pale pubescence ; the pollen-brush white, slightly tinged with fulvous ; on the 

 apical two segments it is black. The back is shining and has a distinct violet and blue 

 iridescence. 



What I consider to be the (/" has the apical tooth of the mandibles narrower and 

 more sharply pointed ; and it is followed by two shorter triangular ones ; the hair on the 

 front and vertex is white ; the clypeus is fringed with bright, rufous hair ; the antennae 

 are long and slender; the apex of the last joint is obliquely narrowed and smooth and 

 shining on the lower side ; the last segment is broadly incised, the sides of the incision 

 are straight and oblique ; the last ventral segment is irregularly, coarsely, rugo.sely punctured ; 

 its hinder edge is raised and is irregularly toothed. 



21. Xylocopa tenuiscapa West. 

 Hah. Goidu, Goifurfehendu Atoll, Maldives. One example. 



22. Xylocopa esica, sp. nov. 



Nigra, nigro pilosa ; alis violaceis $ . 



Long. 23 mm. 



Hah. Mamaduwari, Mahlos Atoll, Maldives. 



Scape of antennae narrow, not dilated at the apex ; the flagellum covered with a 

 fuscous down. Eyes parallel, only very slightly converging above. Head shortly, but per- 

 ceptibly, narrower than the thorax ; densely covered with black pubescence ; closely and rather 

 strongly punctured. The anterior ocellus is surrounded by a smooth furrow, which is widest 

 below, where it is produced downwards for a short distance ; the space below it is smooth 

 and shining and ends in a smooth tubercle, which has a small fovea above it. The face 

 and clypeus are closely punctured, are flat, and, at the apex, the clypeus is smooth and 

 shining and almost transverse with the sides rounded ; a deep, oblique furrow runs from 

 the base of each antenna, downwards. Mandibles smooth and shining ; the base in the 

 middle bears some deep, irregular punctures, below which is a distinct fovea, which is oblique. 



