1.94 BEES OF GREAT BRITAIN, 



history of an insect is to be written ; all classification based 

 upon structural differences alone will frequently be at fault. 

 Time and united observation will one day complete the history 

 of the Hymenoptera. 



1. Ceratina caerulea. 



C. cseruleo-virens, glabriuscula, cylindrica ; abdomine clavato. 

 Mas, ore albo. 



Apis caerulea, Fill. Ent. Europ. iii. 88. t. 8.f. 25 . 



Apis cucurbitina, Rossi, Mant. i. 145. 325. 



Apis callosa, Fair. Ent. Syst. Supp. v. 277. 122-3. 



Apis cyanea, Kirby, Mon. Ap. Angl. ii. 308. 71. t. 17. f. 7 ? , 8 <J . 



Megilla callosa, Fabr. Syst. Piez. p. 328. 31. 



Ceratina callosa, Latr. Gen. Crust, et Ins. iv. 160. 



Ceratina nitidula, Spin. Ins. Lig. fasc. i. 151. 2 $ . 



Ceratina cyanea, St. Farg. Hym. ii. 505. 1. 



Ceratina crerulea, Smith, Zool. iv. 1448. 1. 



Female. Length 2i-3 lines. Blue, shining and closely punc- 

 tured ; the labrum and mandibles black, the latter ferruginous 

 at their apex, which is armed with three teeth, the central tooth 

 the longest ; the flagellum piceous beneath. Thorax with a 

 central longitudinal impressed line, and two short smooth lines 

 on each side ; the wings subfuscous, beautifully iridescent. Ab- 

 domen : the margins of the three basal segments depressed, the 

 apex obtuse, the sixth segment with a central carina, pointed 

 at the apex. B.M. 



Var. a. The clypeus with a yellow spot. 



Male. Length 2-3 lines. This sex only differs in having the 

 clypeus and labrum white ; the latter has a minute black dot 

 in the middle at the base, and another on each side at the 

 middle of its margin. The thorax, wings and legs as in the 

 female. Abdomen having at the apex of the sixth segment in 

 the middle a short elevated carina ; the seventh incurved, pro- 

 duced at its apex into an elevated plate which is notched in the 

 middle. B.M. 



This is a very local species, and is to be obtained most easily 

 by collecting in the winter all the perforated bramble-sticks that 

 can be found in the localities where it is known to have been 

 met with. It has been taken in a field close to Charlton Church, 

 at the entrance to the village, and is also found at Birch Wood ; 

 it frequents the flowers of the Echium vulgare. It is found not 



