Records of Bees. 21 



Meroghssa penetrata percrassa (Ckll.). 



<$ . — Similar to the female, but face deeply channelled on 

 each side as far down as middle of clypeus ; clypeus with a 

 very broad median cream-coloured stripe ; a triangular supra- 

 clypeal mark, sharply pointed above; linear lateral face- 

 marks, beginning near level of middle of clypeus, gradually 

 broadening above, ending a little above level of middle of 

 front ; scape black, swollen ; flagellum ferruginous beneath ; 

 thoracic markings as in female, but clypeal mark reduced to 

 a triangle on posterior margin. Legs without light markings, 

 but anterior tibiae largely ferruginous in front; venter with 

 scanty pale glittering hair, apical dorsal segments with black. 

 Wings clear. 



For other characters see under M. lactifera. 



Bab. Mackay, Queensland (Turner, "273?"), May 

 1899, at flowers of Xanthorrhoea. 



Meroghssa turneriana kurandensis (Ckll.). 



A male from Cooktown, Oct. 1902, has legs marked as in 

 true turneriana, and supraclypeal mark wholly wanting. The 

 metathorax and hind femora and tibiae are shining lilac. 



This was collected by Mr. Turner, and is in the British 

 Museum. 



Meroghssa turneriana viridimutans, subsp. n. 



? . — Like the same sex of M. turneriana (Ckll.), with no 

 light markings on face, but Prussian green instead of blue, 

 with lilac tints here and there (variable) on face, thorax 

 above, and first abdominal segment ; the hind tibia?, seen 

 from behind, are shining purple. 



This has a distinct appearance, but is only a local race ; 

 some females of M. turneriana from Mackay have the thorax 

 green. 



Bab. Port Darwin, Nov. and Dec. 1902 (Turner). British 

 Museum. 



A series of male M. turneriana obtained by Mr. Turner at 

 Mackay and (one specimen) Cairns shows considerable varia- 

 bility in colour. Some have the thorax strongly suffused 

 with lilac, and the vertex may be entirely green. The 

 Mackay specimens were taken in August, January, February, 

 and March. The species shows the usual Meroghssa 

 dimorphism in the tongue. 



