1886.] J. 0. Douglas — The Hive-Bees indigenous to India, 8fc. 83 



d* , $ . Head, thorax, and tegmina of a slight rosy colour : wings 

 white : body beneath and feet of a pale yellowish colour {A. 8f S.). 

 LoLg, 22 millims. 



Reported from Philippines, Java, Singapore. 



Species of doubtful occurrence. 



138. Pceciloptera luteimargo, Walker, J. Linn. Soc. Zool. i, p. 92 (1856). 



Green, with a slight testaceous tinge : frons a little longer than 

 broad with the border slightly elevated and with a slight ridge ; sides 

 rounded : thorax ecarinate : pronotum nearly semicircular, extending 

 ever the vertex : mesonotum broader than long : tegmina subquadrate 

 at the tips, about which there is a luteous brown-bordered band : wings 

 limpid (Walker). Body long, 6 J ; teg., 14^ millims. 



Reported from Singapore. 



139. Pceciloptera niveina, Walker, J. Linn. Soc. Zool. i, p. 92 (1856). 



White : in structure like the preceding : tegmina with a testaceous 

 marginal band which extends from two-thirds of the length of the costa 

 to the base of the hind border (Walker). Body long, 5|- ; teg., 14 J 

 millims. 



Reported from Mount Ophir (Singapore). 



140. Flata lyncea, Fabricins, Ent. Syst. iv, p. 42 (1794) ; Syst Rhyng., p. 55 

 (1803). 



Small : face flavescent, markings black : frons glaucous with a dull 

 black dot on both sides cinctured flavescent and a small line in the 

 middle ; thorax glaucous with two rounded dull black spots anteriorly : 

 tegmina and wings hyaline, exterior margin flavescent (Fabr.). 



Reported from India. 



III. — The Hive-Bees indigenous to India and the Introduction of the 

 Italian Bee. — By J. C. Douglas. 



[Received January 11th ; — Read January 6th, 1886.] 



As I am about to leave Calcutta, and for several months shall not be 

 able to pursue further my investigation concerning the indigenous bees 

 of the genus Apis, I present this preliminary paper. I hope on a future 

 occasion to be able to give further details, after I have mounted, exa- 

 mined, and drawn some of the more characteristic specimens ; I shall 

 also obtain additional specimens and examine more nests of wild bees. 



It is a striking fact that bee-keeping should have been of such trifling 

 value in India, while it has existed elsewhere as a considerable industry from 

 ancient times, has been carried on all over Europe and in parts of Asia and 



