1886.] J.C. Douglas—The Hive-Bees indigenous to India, Sc. 83 
3, 2. Head, thorax, and tegmina of a slight rosy colour : wings 
white: body beneath and feet of a pale yellowish colour (A. & 8.) 
Loug, 22 millims. 
Reported from Philippines, Java, Singapore. 
Species of doubtful occurrence. 
138. Peciloptera luteimargo, Walker, J. Linn. Soc. Zool. i, p. 92 (1856). 
Green, with a slight testaceous tinge: frons a little longer than 
broad with the border slightly elevated and with a slight ridge; sides 
rounded: thorax ecarinate: pronotum nearly semicircular, extending 
cver the vertex: mesonotum broader than long: tegmina subquadrate 
at the tips, about which there is a luteous brown-bordered band: wings 
limpid (Walker). Body long, 6}; teg., 144 millims. 
Reported from Singapore. 
139. Peciloptera niveina, Walker, J. Linn. Soc. Zool. i, p. 92 (1856). 
White: in structure like the preceding: tegmina with a testaceous 
marginal band which extends from two-thirds of the length of the costa 
to the base of the hind border (Walker). Body long, 5}; teg., 143 
millims. 
Reported from Mount Ophir (Singapore). 
140. Flata lyncea, Fabricius, Ent. Syst. iv, p. 42 (1794); Syst Rhyng., p. 55 
(1803). 
Small: face flavescent, markings black: frons glaucous with a dull 
black dot on both sides cinctured flavescent and a small line in the 
middle: thorax glaucous with two rounded dull black spots anteriorly : 
tegmina and wings hyaline, exterior margin flavescent (Jabr.). 
Reported from India. 
DP OOOO 
Ill.—The Hive- Bees indigenous to India and the Introduction of the 
Italian Bee.—By J. C. Dovuctas. 
[Received January 11th ;—Read January 6th, 1886. | 
As Tam about to leave Calcutta, and for several months shall not be 
able to pursue further my investigation concerning the indigenous bees 
of the genus Apis, I present this preliminary paper. I hope on a future 
occasion to be able to give further details, after I have mounted, exa- 
mined, and drawn some of the more characteristic specimens ; I shall 
also obtain additional specimens and examine more nests of wild bees. 
It is a striking fact that bee-keeping should have been of such trifling 
value in India, while it has existed elsewhere as a considerable industry from 
-ancient times, has been carried on all over Europe and in parts of Asia and 
