i 9 S THE HUMBLE-BEE vm 



land the coat is slightly shorter than in specimens 

 from Scotland. Basal part of hind metatarsus less dis- 

 tinctly engraved than in helferanus and agrorum. 



Irish examples are intermediate between the English 

 and Scottish varieties. 



Worker. Length 10-16 mm. 

 Only differs from the queen in size. 



Male. Slightly larger than B. Jielferanns ; length 14- 

 15 mm., expanse 26-28 mm. 



Coloured like the queen, but there is little or no trace of 

 bands on the abdomen, and in bright fresh specimens the 

 abdomen is flushed with lemon ; this colour, however, soon 

 becomes dingy, fading to pale brown. 



Coat slightly longer, slightly more even, and slightly denser 

 than in helferanus. 



Joints of the antennae slightly swollen behind, as in 

 helferanus ; length of flagellum 5^ mm. 



Armature distinct, but approaching that of B. hel- 

 feranus ; among other differences the forceps at their 

 extremities are broader and blunter than in helferanus. 



A male taken at Loo Bridge, in south-west Ireland, by 

 Col. Yerbury, had the thorax dark chestnut-brown and the coat 

 generally of a brownish tinge. (Ent. Mon. Mag. for 1902, p. 54.) 



B. muscorum is not an abundant species, but it 

 is distributed throughout the kingdom. It is more 

 common in Scotland and Ireland than in England. 

 In Kent, and probably in other southern and eastern 

 counties, it is chiefly confined to marshy districts. I 

 have taken it in Romney Marsh on the flowers of 

 the marsh mallow, and at Ripple I occasionally met 

 with specimens in clover fields, most of which have 

 probably strayed from the marshes near Deal. 



In July 191 1, having been informed by some 



