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BEES OF GREAT BRITAIN. 13 



with this genus, that he regarded all the Kirbyan species as 

 varieties of one, including even the remarkable P. dilatata. 

 This is one of the species which has more than once been bred 

 from bramble sticks ; it is very abundant, and is scattered all over 

 the country. 



7. Prosopis hyalinata, 



P. atra, ahs hvalinis, tibiis flavo annulatis. 



Melitta aimulata, Kirhy, Mon. Jp. AriyL ii. 37, var. |8. 



Hylseus hyalinatus, Smith, Trans. Eat, Sac. iv. 33. 9 ; Zool vi. 

 2206. 8. 



J, 



Female. Length 2-3 lines.— Black; the head elongate as in 

 '^ communis ; " the flagellum, except one or two of the basal 

 joints, fulvous beneath ; the face has on each side an angular 

 yellow si)ot touching the eyes, this spot varies in size in different 

 individuals, and is sometimes almost obsolete ; thorax more ro- 

 tundate than that of" communis,''^ shorter before the wings, very 

 evenly punctured; a line on each side of the collar, the tuber- 

 cles behind and the tegulse in front, white ; the tibise white at 

 their base ; the wings hyaline, splendidly iridescent, the ner- 

 vures dark fuscous; abdomen ovate, smooth and shining; on 

 the apical margin of the basal segment a little white pubescence, 

 frequently obliterated. B.M. 



Male. Length 2-2Hines.— The face yellowish-white ; the fla- 

 gellum, except two or three basal segments, fulvous beneath ; 

 the anterior tibise in front, all the tibiae at their base, and the 

 tarsi, yellowish-white ; the latter slightly ferruginous beyond 

 the basal joint ; the abdomen smooth and shining, and in 

 (jjt recent specimens having a little white pubescence on each side 



on the apical margin of the basal segment; the sides and 

 apex of the abdomen have a fine white pile observable in certain 

 lights. B.M. 



This species most closely resembles " co^nmunis,^^ particularly 

 the female, but it is quite distinct : the form of the thorax in this 

 sex is a good specific difference, and the markings are much 

 whiter than in '' communis \'^ the male is readily distinguished. 

 In the month of July this species abounds in Sandown Bay in 

 really astonishing numbers ; they are found in almost every 

 flower of the bramble, and amongst a large number captured 

 not an individual occurred of P. communis P. signata is found 

 there, but not in such large numbers. 



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