182 BEES OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



wider than the other joints. Thorax : the pubescence fulvous 

 above, griseous beneath ; the anterior legs have a stout acute 

 spine on the coxae, the femora are dilated, and of a pale testa- 

 ceous-yellow, having two longitudinal ferruginous stripes be- 

 neath ; the tibiae beneath, and the tarsi are pale testaceous ; the 

 tibiae have a bent spine at their apex in front ; the basal joint of 

 the tarsi as broad as the tibiae, the three following joints trans- 

 verse, gradually narrowing to the apical joint, the tarsi densely 

 fringed with a pale glittering curled pubescence, which has a 

 ferruginous stain beneath ; the claws pale ferruginous, their 

 tips black ; the intermediate and posterior legs have a loose 

 cinereous pubescence, the posterior tibiae slightly bent, the 

 claws ferruginous, the tips black. Abdomen subquadrate, the 

 pubescence loosely scattered and pale fulvous; the apex in- 

 flexed, emarginate, the seventh segment armed with three short 

 angular teeth. B.M. 



This is the most abundant species of the genus found in En- 

 gland, and appears to be generally distributed. It occurs in all 

 parts of the country. The popular name of the Willow Bee is 

 certainly very appropriate. Some years ago, when decaying 

 willows were numerous in the Battersea Fields, the old stumps . 

 were perforated with innumerable burrows formed by this species. 

 Mr. Kirby also quotes a passage from a note by Sir John Hill, 

 in his translation of Swammerdam, where he says he has seen 

 thousands of the nests of this bee in Lincolnshire, in the old 

 willow-trees. 



9. Megachile maritima. 



M. pallide pubescens ; thoracis disco fusco-ferrugineo ; mandi- 

 bulis magnis, prominentibus ; abdomine oblongo-cordato ; 

 segmentorum marginibus albicantibus. Mas, pedibus anticis 

 dilatato-ciliatis, tibiis posticis clavatis, ano emarginato. 



Apis maritima, Kirby, Mon* Ap. Angl. ii. 242. 43 ? . 

 Apis lagopoda, Panz. Faun. Germ. 55. 7, nee Linn. 

 Anthophora lagopoda, Fabr. Syst. Piez. p. 374. 9. 

 Megachile maritima, Smith, Zool. ii. 692. 2 ^ ? . 



Female. Length 6-7 lines. Black ; the face densely clothed 

 with bright golden-fulvous pubescence, above the insertion 

 of the antennae it is fuscous, as is also that which fringes 



