from the State of Vera Cruz. 293 



coloured pubescence of hind tibige. It is allied to M.gilensisj 

 Ckll. ined., from New Mexico *. 



(11) Halictus Townsendi, sp. n. 



? . Length about 11 raillini. Black, with sparse, very 

 pale brownish-grey pubescence. Head broader than thorax, 

 extremely large, subquadrate ; cheeks very broad behind the 

 eyes, produced into a blunt spine behind. Eyes small, face 

 nearly twice as broad as the length of an eye. Ocelli close 

 together, the distance between the hind ocelli hardly half the 

 distance between one ocellus and the eye. Vertex and front 

 very closely punctured; clypeus and lower part of face shining, 

 with larger sparse punctures. Mandibles scimitar-shaped, 



* While on the subject of Melissodes, I will describe a species which, 

 though taken in New Mexico, appears to have Neotropical affinities : — 



Melissodes luteicornis, sp. n. 



(S . Length 13| milliiu. : anterior wing 9^ millim. ; antenna 8 millim. 

 Black; pubescence of head, thorax, and basal segment of abdomen bi-ight 

 orange-fulvous, that on thorax rather short but very dense, concealinu^ 

 the surface, not at all intermixed with black. Head broad, face not far 

 from square ; ocelli large, placed in only a slight curve ; sides of vertex 

 shining; clypeus seen from in front looks naked, large, punctured, bright 

 lemon-yellow, with a black spot, partly hidden by a brush of hairs, on 

 each side. Labrum pale yellow, its apex with a brush of rufous hairs. 

 Mandibles practically simple, obscurely notched within, basal portion 

 broadly pale yellow. Antt'nna3 entirely yellow, except that the funicle 

 and much of the first joint of flagellum are rufescent above, and the 

 whole flagellum is obscurely tinged with rufous above, each joint having 

 a dark dot at its base. First joint of flagellum a very little shorter than 

 second. Tegulaj pubescent. Wings hyaline, nervui-es fuscous. Legs 

 rather densely covered with pale greyish-ochreous hairs ; inner side of 

 tarsi with shining dark rufous hairs. Abdomen stout, black ; bases of 

 second and third segments with broad uniform bands of appressed 

 greyish-white pubescence ; a similar band on the fourth segment appears 

 dirty grey from the presence of numerous erect bla -k hairs. The rest of 

 the abdomen above, except the first segment, with short black hairs, only 

 conspicuous towards the apex. 



Four at Riucon, N. M., July 5, 1896 ; three at Colorado, a small town 

 near Kincon, July 10, 1896 : all at flowers of mesquito {Prosopis juliflora, 

 var. glandulosa). The student is requested to remember that the locality 

 Colorado has nothing to do with the State of that name. — M. luteicornis 

 is a very beautiful species, easily recog-nized by its yellow antennae. Its 

 general build is suggestive of 3/. oUiqua ; but, besides the quite difierent 

 coloration, the face is broader and the first recurrent nervure joins the 

 second submarginal cell nearer its end than in that species. Judging by 

 the description. Smith's Tetndonia fervcns, from Chili and La Plata (not 

 Brazil, as Dalla Torre has it), must greatly resemble our species. The 

 antennas oi fervens, according to Smith, are bri^'ht red ; but the antennae 

 of luteicornis turn bright carmine when the bees are left too long in a 

 damp cyanide bottle. 



Ann. & Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 6. Vol. xviii. 21 



