4 PLATE CCCCXXXIV. 
Avis pinipes. Chriftic Hymenopt. p. 151. tab. 8. fig. 9. mas. 
Apis HIsPANICA. Panz.Fn. Inf. Germ. Init. n. 55. tab. 6. 
‘This curious kind of bee appears to be defcribed by feveral writers 
under the various names of plumzpes, pilipes, and pennipes, in allu- 
fion to the remarkable tufts of long hairs upon the middle pair of legs, 
which contribute in fuch a ftriking manner both to the beauty and fin- 
gular appearance of the fpecies. Panzer defcribes it under the more: 
local, and therefore more objeCtionable epithet of hifpanica. 
Mr. Kirby confiders this as no other than the male fex of the Lin- 
nean fpecies refufa, and notwithftanding the great diffimilarity which 
prevails between the two infeéts fuppofed to be male and female, 
there is reafon to apprehend, according to the obfervations of Mr. 
Kirby, that they may be really of the fame fpecies: the evidence in 
favour of fuch an opinion affords a {trong prefumption of the faét, al- 
though it fill remaims to adduce in fupport of it, the teftimony of thofe 
circumftances which we are taught to admit as the moft convincing, 
and wnerriag proof.—tit has been remarked, that when this imfeét 
makes its firlt appearance in the fpring, the down of the upper fide of 
the body, the vent excepted, is of a reddifh yellow colour, and that la- 
ter in the year the hair becomes more cinereous. _ 
This infe& is very local; it 1s fometimes found in nefts or cells con- 
firuGed in old walls in pretty confiderable numbers, but except in 
fuch fituations is very fearce. The finalleft figure denotes the natural 
fize. 
PLATE 
