British Hymenoptera. 237 



pubescence slightly shorter. The <? of suhterraneus has 

 been distmguished as having the beard of the mandibles 

 red ; but there is much variation amongst the males in 

 this respect, and that therefore seems to be a useless 

 character. The black variety, Harriselhis, is rarer than 

 the typical form. 



7. Bomhus nivalis, Smith. 



Smith, Cat. Brit. Hym., 2nd ed., p. 210 = nivalis, 

 Dahlb. ? ?. 



" 2 , 8 — 9 lines. The pubescence on the head black ; that on the 

 thorax above yellow, more or less iuclinmg to fulvous, with a band 

 of black pubescence between the wings ; that on the sides, on the 

 legs, and on the thorax beneath, black ; wings subhyaline. Abdo- 

 men : the pubescence on the two basal segments yellow, on the 

 3rd it is black, and on the three apical segments of a fulvous- 

 yellow." 



"5, 6 — 7 lines. Only differs from the j in having the pube- 

 scence at the apex of the abdomen paler, inclining to white." 



"^, 6— 6| lines. The face before the anteimae clothed with 

 yellow pubescence, with a black band between the wings ; beneath 

 and on the femora it is of a very pale yellow, on the tibiae it is 

 black. Abdomen : the two basal segments with yellow pubescence, 

 the 3rd and 4th with black, and the apical ones with pale yellowish 

 white ; beneath the pubescence is also yellowish white." 



I have quoted Smith's description verbatim, because, 

 after a careful examination of the specimens in the 

 British Museum, I do not feel sure that they have been 

 correctly referred to nivalis, Dahlb. ; and yet they do not 

 agree exactly with any other British species ; they most 

 closely resemble Sclirimshiranus both in form and colour, 

 but the ? has the hairs of the tibiae black, and the ^ 

 has the posterior metatarsi less gradually constricted at 

 the base, although clothed with long hairs as in that 

 species. Unfortunately the genital armature is not 

 exposed, so that the species cannot be determined for 

 certain ; but continental nivalis is such a much larger 

 and more brightly coloured insect that I cannot imagine 

 ours can be identical with it. The species was taken in 

 Shetland in 1852. More specimens are wanted to 

 decide if it be only a variety of Schrimshiraniis or a 

 distinct species. 



