ANTHIDIUM. 281 



lowed to fit the metathorax ; the segments slightly con- 

 stricted, the terminal segment transversely concave, and 

 its apex terminating in three slight angles ; the venter, 

 which is flat, is densely clothed from the second segment 

 with parallel layers of equal, moderately long, shining hair, 

 the segment being distinctly indicated by these layers. 



The MALE differs in being considerably larger; the 

 mandibles merely tridentate; the legs longer and more 

 robust ; the tibiae and tarsi more densely fimbriated 

 externally, and the tarsi relatively much longer ; the 

 abdomen densely edged laterally with short curled hair, 

 the terminal segment with three processes, the lateral 

 ones strong and curved internally, the central one 

 shorter and straight, and the penultimate segment trans- 

 versely concave, with a strong tooth on each side curved 

 externally, and the venter glabrous beneath. 



NATIVE SPECIES. 



1. manicatum, Linnseus. 5-8 lines. (Plate XIII. fig. 



!<??*) 



manicatum, Kirby. 



GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 



The generic name in this instance seems to be manu- 

 factured from the root ai/#o?, a flower. I cannot trace 

 any other derivation as it may not be attributed merely 

 to the habits of the species in frequenting flowers, for is 

 not this the prime function of all the bees, wherein they 

 fulfil a most important office in the economy of nature ? 

 How easy might it have been to regulate that flowers 

 should fertilize themselves, as many do without any ex- 

 traneous intervention, but by this wise and benevolent 

 ordination a tribe of sensitive creatures is introduced to 



