BEES OF GREAT BRITAIN. 207 



black on the vertex ; the thorax has a fuscous pubescence on 

 the disk, on the metathorax and sides it is pale fulvo-ochra- 

 ceous ; the legs have a similar pubescence, that on the poste- 

 rior tibiae and basal joint of the tarsi is of a brighter yellow ; 

 wings subhyaline. Abdomen ovate, the base has a thin pale 

 pubescence, which is also thinly scattered over the whole ab- 

 domen, that at the apex being bright ferruginous. B.M. 



Maid Length 5-5 lines. This sex closely resembles the 

 female, but it has the clypeus and the face on each side, a 

 transverse line above the clypeus, the labrum, and usually a 

 spot on the scape in front, yellow ; the clypeus has a round 

 fuscous spot on each side at the base ; the pubescence on the 

 thorax is similar to that of the other sex above ; beneath it is 

 cinereous. Abdomen thinly clothed with pale pubescence, 

 towards the apex it is black. B.M. 



This bee is by no means abundant, nor is it generally distri- 

 buted ; it is however found in the vicinity of London during the 

 months of July and August; it occurs in the Battersea and 

 Kentish Town fields, frequenting the flowers of the Red Dead- 

 nettle, frequently in company with A. 4-maculata ; it is not un- 

 common in the neighbourhood of Brentford and Hammersmith, 

 but has seldom been met with beyond the London district. 



Subfamily 5. SOCIALES, Latr. 

 Genus 16. BOMBUS. 



Apis, pt., Linn. Syst. Nat. p. 953 (1766). 

 Bombus, pt , Latr. Hist. Nat. Ins. xiv. 63 (1802). 

 Bremus, Panz. Jurine, Hym. p. 259. 



Body oblong and densely pubescent ; head subtriangular ; an- 

 tennae geniculated, filiform, longer than the head. Ocelli placed 

 in a slight curve in a transverse impression on the vertex. La- 

 brum transverse, its anterior margin ciliated. Mandibles stout, 

 grooved exteriorly towards their apex, which is rounded. Labial 

 palpi four-jointed ; the first joint elongate, longer than the 

 mentum, the second joint about one-fourth as long as the first, 

 ciliated at the sides ; the third and fourth joints minute, placed 

 outside and near the apex of the second joint. Paraglossse 

 short, broad, and rounded at their apex; labiuin linear, very 



