JBrazilian Honey Bees. 505 



The maxillary palpi one-jointed, but in many species not dis- 

 cernible ; the mandibles not toothed. 



Wings one-Jiflh shorter than the body ; the neuration very like 

 that of the genus Trigona, but the transverse nervures are fre- 

 quently obliterated ; the anterior wings with one marginal and 

 two sub-marginal cells, the first quadrate, receiving the first re- 

 current nervure ; the second extending to the apex of the wing. 

 In some species there is a false nervure or fold, apparently form- 

 ing an incomplete small second sub-marginal cell. 



Posterior legs of the ordinary length, the tibiae dilated. 



1 . Melipona Mnndagaia. 



M. nigra ; facie pube cinerea vestita ; abdomine ferrugineo ; 

 marginibiis basalibus segmentorum nigro-fasciatis ; alis 

 hyalinis. 



Worker. Length S| lines. Head and thorax black ; the posterior 

 margin of the vertex and the thorax above with black pubescence ; 

 the front, between the ocelli and the insertion of the antennae, 

 clothed with snow-white pubescence; the flagellum, beyond the 

 two basal joints, fulvous ; the clypeus and face below the an- 

 tennae smooth and shining; the tips of the m.andibles rufo- 

 piceous. The articulations of the anterior and intermediate legs 

 rufo-piceous, as well as the apical joint of their tarsi ; the posterior 

 legs have the femora at their apex beneath, the inferior margin, 

 and the apex of the tibiae and the tarsi rufo-piceous; the pubes- 

 cence on the legs black. Abdomen of a chestnut-red, with the 

 basal segment, the basal margins of the four following and the 

 apical segment, black. The wings hyaline, their nervures pale 

 ferruginous. The mandibles without teeth. 



The fasciae on the abdomen vary in width as well as in depth of 

 colouring ; in some specimens they are scarcely visible, in conse- 

 quence of the segments having contracted and drawn their bases 

 inwards. 



2. Melipona Mondury. 



M. capite thoraceque nigris ; pedibus, scutello, et abdomine 

 flavo-ferrugineis ; alis hyalinis. 



Worker. Length 4 lines. Head and thorax black ; the man- 

 dibles and antennae ferruginous, the latter dusky above ; the an- 

 terior margin of the clypeus and a line down the centre reddish- 

 yellow ; the cheeks and face covered with short cinereous pile, 

 the vertex with fulvous hairs. The scutellum, metathorax behind, 



VOL. I. THIRD SERIES, PART VI. MAY, 1863. M M 



