174 



APin.*:. 



the thorax, which has a yellowish brown pubescence on the disk, on 

 the sides and beneath it is cinereous ; the wings and legs as in the 

 other sex ; the anterior coxae unarmed. The abdomen oblong- 

 ovate, the two basal segments have a thin pale pubescence, the 

 margins depressed ; the intermediate ones have on each side a short 

 pale fringe ; the apex indexed, the margin of the sixth segment 

 emarginate. B.M. 



This species appears to be rather local ; it is fouud round London, 

 but only occasionally. Mr. Kirby found its nests in old elm trees, 

 its burrows being lined with the leaves of that tree. I have observed 

 it most commonly at Richmond, Hampton Court, and Windsor. In 

 some districts it is doubtless plentiful. Ccelioxys simplex was bred 

 from its burrows at Dartford, Kent. 



3. Megachile versicolor. 



M. pallide pubescens ; abdomine subcordato, segmentorum utrinque 

 marginibus albidis ; ventre lana versicolori dense vestito. 



Megachile versicolor, Smith, Zool. ii. 697 $ ; Bees Great Brit. 177. 



Female. Length 4f-5^ lines. — Black ; the head and thorax closely 

 and rather strongly punctured. The mandibles with four acute 

 teeth ; the face with dense pale fulvous pubescence on each side ; 

 the clypeus coarsely punctured. Thorax, the pubescence on the 

 sides pale fulvous ; beneath and on the legs above it is more or less 

 cinereous ; the three apical joints of the tarsi ferruginous ; all the 

 tarsi with rufo-fulvous pubescence beneath. Abdomen shining ; on 

 the apical margin of the segments laterally a narrow fringe of 

 white pubescence ; beneath, the pubescence is rufo-fulvous on 

 the second, third, and fourth segments, and black on the fifth and 

 sixth. B.M. 



This species is most like M. centuncularis. All that I have seen 

 (about a dozen examples) agree in the particular distinctions pointed 

 out — the more acute mandibles, and the bicoloured pubescence beneath 

 the abdomen. The specimen from which the description is drawn is 

 one in very fine condition ; others have the pubescence on the sides 

 of the thorax more or less grey. I am not certain about the deter- 

 mination of the male, but have a specimen that differs from the 

 male of M. centuncularis in having the margin of the seventh seg- 

 ment laterally dentate, and in the middle of the segment a prominent 

 larger tooth. This may prove to be the true male. The female 

 has been taken at Weybridge, Bournemouth, Bristol, and Carlisle. 



4. Megachile pyrina. 



M. pallide pubescens ; abdomine subcordato, segmentorum mar- 

 ginibus pallide fulvis : abdomine maris incurvo, ano emarginato ; 

 tarsi s rufis. 



