256 BRITISH BEES. 



as the third, and, like it, subclavate, both being more 

 robust than the second ; labium not half the length of 

 the tongue, and acutely triangular at its inosculation; 

 maxillm subhastate, not quite so long as the tongue ; 

 maxillary palpi five-jointed, about one-third the length 

 of the maxillae, the basal joint clavate, short, and robust; 

 the second elongate, subclavate, the remainder gradually 

 but slightly diminishing in substance and length, the 

 terminal not so long as the basal joint. Thorax very 

 retuse, and its divisions scarcely distinguishable ; scu- 

 tellum bidentate ; metathorax abruptly truncated ; wings 

 with three closed submarginal cells, the second the 

 smallest, irregularly triangular, and receiving the first 

 recurrent nervure just beyond its centre, the third sub- 

 marginal considerably larger than the second, sublunu- 

 late, but angulated externally and receiving the second 

 recurrent nervure about its centre ; the legs robust and 

 spinulose, especially the tibiae externally (vehere they are 

 very convex) and the femora beneath ; the claws short, 

 strong and bifid. The abdomen conical, truncated, and 

 retuse at its base, the apical segment with a central 

 triangular plate ridged laterally, and fimbriated at its 

 sides with strong setse. 



The MALE scarcely difiers in personal appearance, 

 excepting that its antennae are more robust and its 

 ornamental pubescence is more profuse, its posterior 

 tibiae very robust and almost triangular, and the termi- 

 nal segment of its abdomen slightly emarginate and con- 

 cave at its extremity. 



NATIVE SPECIES. 



1. punctata, Fabricius, (J ? . 6 lines. (Plate XI. 

 fig. 1 (? ? •) 



