7076 Insects. 



obtained from diflTerent continental localities the true B. Agrorura ; it 

 is very distinct from the variety A. Agrorum of Kirby, and is a species 

 not yet I believe discovered in this country. That this is the true 

 Apis Mnscorura of Liuneus is proved by an examination of the typical 

 specimen in the Linnean Cabinet in the Museum of the Linnean 

 Society. I have also obtained specimens from Sweden and Denmark 

 which are identical with the Linnean insect. In M. Drewsen's col- 

 lection is a fine series of the variety B. Mniorara : every shade of 

 variety exists between our darkest specimens of the female, and one 

 in which the pubescence on the thorax and abdomen above is black, 

 having a few pale hairs intermixed at the base and apex of the abdo- 

 men. The other sexes vary in a similar manner ; the intermediate 

 varieties strongly resemble examples of B. Sylvarum. 



2. B. senilis, Smith, Zool. ii. 544, 1 (nee Fabr.) ; Bees Great Brit. 



214, 2. 

 Bombus cognatus, Steph. Brit. Ent. Siipp. vii. 17, t. 43, f. 8, $. 



(immature). 

 Apis Muscorum, Kirhy, ii. 317, 74. Don. Brit. Ins. xi. 70, t. 382, 



f. 2. 

 Bombus Muscorum, Wesiw. Nat. Lihr. xxxviii, 253, t. 16, f. 3, 9. 



This species is readily distinguished from B. Muscorum by the rich 

 fulvous pubescence on the thorax above, and by the almost uniform 

 paler colour of the pubescence on the abdomen ; the corbicula are 

 also pale ; in B. Muscorum they are black or nearly so. I formerly 

 supposed, relying on the description in the ' Entomologia Systematica,' 

 that the B. senilis was a faded specimen of the worker of this species, 

 but Dr. Nylander informed me that B. senilis is a pale worker of B. 

 Muscorum ; I therefore retain the name, having twice described it as 

 B. senilis. 



1 have stated in my preliminary remarks that this species seldom or 

 never varies ; T may here add that in a series of Danish specimens I 

 observed no variation or even the slightest difference to British 

 examples. 



3. B. Smithianus, White, Proa. Linn. Soc. 1851. Smith, Mon. Bees. 



Great Brit. 215, 3. 



Through the kindness of M. Drewsen I have had an opportunity of 



examining specimens of the B. arcticus of Dahlbom, and I find it a 



distinct species from B. Smithianus. I may also add that I can detect 



no difference between it and the B. Agrorum of Europe. This species 



