270 FOREIGN BEES. 



be reasonably entertained. This dissimilarity of 

 the sexes is important to be noticed, on account 

 of the difficulty of determining such exotic species of 

 Xylocopse as are closely related to each other. The 

 propriety of giving Xylocopa Moris Fab. as a synonym 

 of the female of the insect in question, or Apis Bra- 

 silianorum as that of the male, as Mr. Guilding has 

 done, is extremely questionable. Mr. Westwood, 

 whose opinion is of so much value on a point of this 

 kind, has scarcely a doubt that the Xylocopa Chrys- 

 optera of Latreille (Humboldt's South Amer. Zool. 

 PL XXXVIII. fig. 1,) is the female of X. Brasilian- 

 orum. 



XYLOCOPA CORNIGER. 

 PLATE XXI. Fig. 3. 



THIS figure represents a very large, nondescript, and 

 unique species of Xylocopa, from the coller^'on of the 

 Rev. F. W. Hope. Mr. Westwood, to whom we are 

 indebted for a beautiful drawing of it, proposes to 

 name it X. Corniger, on account of two short strong 

 horns upon the back part of the head, a character 

 which does not occur in any other known species of 

 the genus. 



It is entirely black and shining, the upper surface 

 of the thorax and abdomen being entirely destitute of 

 hairs. The front of the head is broad, and bears two 

 oblique elevated shining ridges above the mouth, and 

 between the posterior part of the eyes are two short 

 thick horns. The abdomen is long and depressed, 

 with fascicles of black hairs on the sides and extre- 

 mity ngs are black and very glossy, with a 



