PLATE CCCLXXVI. 4.5 



It will be obferved, that the fpecific defcription of the Linnaean 

 Sphex gibba, left us by Linnaeus hiinfelf, does not very clearly exprefs 

 our infecl, but which it now appears, upon the beft authority/ is cer- 

 tainly the one intended by that writer. This obfcure circumftance 

 has been cleared up by Mr. Kirby, who met with the remains of the 

 authentic fpecimen of Sphex gibba in the Linnaean cabinet, and was, 

 by that means, enabled to afcertain the fpecies meant by Linnaeus, 

 which otherwife might have ever remained a matter of uncertainty. 

 Fabricius, unacquainted with the infect, or more probably unable to 

 determine the Linnaean infect from the defcription, is content to quote 

 the words of Linnaeus. Mr. Kirby has affigned it a new character, by 

 which the fpecies may, in future, be eaiily diftinguimed. In his ar- 

 rangement, it Hands as a Mditta, under the fpecific name of Sphe- 

 coides. 



This infect is rather rare, our fpecimen was taken in Kent. 



FIG. III. 

 APIS GEOFFRELLA. 



GEOFFROY'S BEE, 



SPECIFIC CHARACTER. 



Black : abdomen rufous, tip and legs black : tarfi and anterior 

 fhanks reddifh. 



Apis Geoffrella. Atra; abdomine rufo, apice pedibufque nigro- 

 piceis ; maxillis, tarfis, tibiifque anticis, rufefcenti- 

 bus. Kirby. Ap* Angl. T. 2. p. 45, 



Geofrroy,, 



