100 AXDREXID^. 



27. Halictus atricornis. 



H. niger, nitidus, pallido villosulus ; abdornine lsevi, nitidissimo. 



Halictus atricornis, Smith, Ent. Ann. 1870, p. 26 <$ $ . 



Female. Length 3 lines. — Shining black ; bead very finely and closely 

 punctured, subopaque ; the clypeus produced, its apex longitudinally 

 coarsely sculptured. Thorax finely punctured above ; the meta- 

 thorax truncate, its base longitudinally finely rugulose ; the tegulae 

 slightly rufo-piceous at the outer margin ; the wings fulvo-byaline, 

 but clear hyaline at their base ; the tibiae and tarsi with pale glit- 

 tering pubescence. Abdomen ovate, at the basal margins of the 

 second and third segments very finely punctured ; the following 

 segments, as well as the sides of the abdomen, with a thin griseous 

 pubescence, the anal rima slightly fulvous. 



Male. Length 2|-2| lines. — The colour and sculpturing as in the 

 female ; the antennas black, and as long as the thorax ; the apical 

 margin of the clypeus narrowly yellowish white ; the apical joints 

 of the tarsi rufo-testaceous. Abdomen elongate-ovate, smooth, 

 shining, and impunctate. 



In its general aspect this species resembles H. villosulus ; but the 

 puncturing of the thorax and abdomen at once separates it. The 

 male cannot be mistaken for that of the above species, it being 

 very slightly pubescent, and its antennae black. 



28. Halictus minutus. 

 H. niger, valde nitidus, antennis subtus fulvescentibus. 



Halictus minutus, St.-Farg. Hi/m. ii. 277. 



Smith, Zool. yi. 2102 ; Bees Great Brit. 42 : Entomol. iv. 267. 



Nyland. Notts, ur Stilish, pro Faun, et Flo. Fenn. i. 202. 



Thorns. Opusc. Ent. 311 ; Hym. Scancl. ii. 146. 

 Melitta minuta, Kirby, Mon. Apwm Angl. ii. 61 $ § . 

 Hylasus minutus, Schenck, Nass. Bien. 269. 



Female. Length 2-^-3 lines. — Black ; head and thorax very finely 

 punctured ; the flagellum fulvescent beneath. Thorax glossy, the 

 wings subhyaline and iridescent, the tegulae and nervures rufo- 

 piceous ; the metathorax rounded, subrugose at the base, beyond 

 which is a smooth and shining space : the legs sometimes nigro- 

 piceous, thinly sprinkled with cinereous pubescence, the apical 

 joints of the tarsi ferruginous. Abdomen very glossy, ovate, and 

 delicatelv punctured. B.M. 



Mate. Length 2\ lines. — The antennae as long as the thorax, sub- 

 fulvous beneath, sometimes bright fulvous, the scape black ; the face 

 clothed with white pubescence ; the apex of the clypeus yellowish 

 white, the mandibles yellowish towards their apex, with the tips 



