152 



Zoological Society : — 



March 25, 1862.— Dr. J. E. Gray, V.P., in the Chair. 



Notes on the Form of the Comb (Pecten) in different 

 Andrenid^e and Apid,e, and on the alar hooks of the 

 Species of Sphecodes and Halictus. By Miss E. F. 

 Stave ley*. 



I have made a few notes in the hope of saving your time and eyes ; 

 but I fear they are of very little value ; and, as you are aware, I know 

 so little of what has been already written on the subject, that my 

 notes, even if correct, may not be new. Besides this, my examina- 

 tion of the parts of the mouth has as yet been confined to about 

 twenty-six Bees of various species and the three sexes. 



There are some peculiarities in the maxillae of the Bees which I 

 think might serve as generic or specific characters, and which I 

 believe have not yet been used for that purpose. 



One is the presence of a row of strong, flat hairs or teeth, forming 

 a sort of comb, varying much in form and situation. 



In all the Andrenidae where I have found it, it forms a wavy line, 

 commencing near the base of the upper joint of the maxilla about 

 midway between the two margins, as in Andrena cinfftdata, £ 

 (figs. 1, 2). 



* Communicated by Dr. J. E. Gray with the following letter : — 



" I beg of you to lay the following observations, which Miss Staveley has 

 sent to me, before the Society. They indicate some characters which appear to 

 have hitherto been overlooked. 



" Dr. Sclater, F.R.S., 8fc." " J- E. Gray." 



