Ifymenoptera from the Transvaal. 213 



yellow ; the whole thorax except the portions marked with 

 yellow and the basal half of the median segment closely finely 

 punctured, the basal half of the median segment highly 

 polished and shining, with a deep, oval, short and broad, 

 depressed median longitudinal hollow at the apex of the 

 polished poition, this hollow transversely punctured inside. 

 Wings fusco-hyaline, pubescent, nervures brown. Legs 

 black, the tarsi reddish towards the apex; the apex of the 

 trochanters, a spot on the anterior and intermediate femora 

 at apex, and a broadish line on the anterior and intermediate 

 tibifB yellow. Abdomen orange-yellow, shining, the basal 

 half of the first segment black, the third and fourth segments 

 shaded with fuscous above 



Length, $ , 19 millim. 



llah. Pretoria. Collected by Mr. Distant. 



This species seems closest to Philantkus Lajllngii^ Dhlb., 

 but differs both in sculpture and colour. 



riiilanthus fascipennis^ Guer. 



rinUmthis fuscipennis, Guer. Icouogr. Eegn. anini. vii., lus. (1845) 

 p. 443 ; Smith, Cat. llym. B. M. iv. (1856) p. 472. 



Three females, Pretoria {Distant) ; Johannesburg and 

 Durban {A. Eoss). 



Philanthus hucephaluSj Smith. 

 Fhiluntlms hucephalus, Smith, Cat. Ilym. B. M. iv. (1856) p. 472. 



Five males, Pretoria {Distant) ; Barberton [Rendall) ; 

 Brak Kloof {Mrs. White). 



I was at first inclined to think that this species was only a 

 light-coloured exceptionally large-headed male of P. fusci- 

 2'ennis, Guerin (Smith's type is a male) ; but I have lately 

 seen an undoubted female of what can be nothing else than 

 P. hucephalus. This latter species has cheeks twice as 

 broad as those of P. fuscipennis. 



Philanthus histrio, Fabr. 



Philanthus histrio, Fabr. Syst. Piez. 1804, p. 301. 

 Philanthus Schonherri, Dhlb. Ilym. Eur. i. (1845) p. 496, 

 PJiilanthus for7nosus, Smith, Cat. Hym. B. M. iv. (1856) p. 471. 



Two males (typical), Johannesburg {Gregoe) ; two females 

 and two males (var. formosus), Johannesburg and Durban 

 {A.Ross). 



