7. OSMIA. 157 



the triangular space at the base of the metathorax opaque. Abdomen 

 widest towards the apex, with rufo-fulvous pubescence on the two 

 basal segments ; the third and following segments thinly covered 

 with black pubescence and very brightly shining ; beneath densely 

 clothed with black pubescence. B.1T. 



The insect described was named 0. fuoiformis by Dr. JNylander, but 

 was regarded by myself as a variety of 0. xanthomelana in the first, 

 edition of this work. Dr. Gerstaecker has pointed out a character 

 which appears to separate this from 0. xantliomelana, namely the 

 opaque space at the metathorax of one ; and the shining space in 

 the other. Dr. Gerstaecker, however, I believe, has applied these 

 distinctive characters to the wrong insects. Kirby's type of 0. xan- 

 thomelana has the base of the metathorax shining ; in my 0. fuci- 

 formis it is opaque, and the species is smaller than the former insect. 

 The basal joint of the posterior tarsi is covered within with jet-black 

 hairs ; in the other species they are more or less rufous. I do not 

 know the male. The character " metatarso postico apicem versus 

 sensim dilatato," which Gerstaecker assigns to his 0. fuciformis, is 

 precisely that of the male of 0. xanthomelana. Taken at Birch 

 Wood, Kent. 



6. Osmia parietina. 



0. aterrima, villosa ; capite, thorace abdominisque segmento primo 

 in mare et femina fulvo villosis ; ano in mare integro, facie 

 subcinerea. 



Osmia parietina, Curtis, Brit. JSnt. v. 222, tab. 222 $ . 

 Smith, Zool. ii. 743 ; Bees Great Brit. 167 $ $ ■ 

 Osmia vulpecula, Gerst. Stett. ent. Zeit. (1869) 335? 



Female. Length ^4| lines. — Black; the face clothed with long 

 pale fulvous pubescence, sometimes with a few darker hairs on the 

 clypeus, which is truncate anteriorly. Thorax densely clothed 

 with bright rufo-fulvous pubescence ; wings subhyaline, with a cloud 

 in the marginal cell and on their apical margins ; the nervures 

 obscure fusco-ferruginous ; the base of the metathorax opaque ; the 

 tarsi with a mixture of pale fulvous hairs, beneath it is reddish 

 brown ; the claws ferruginous. Abdomen shining, and with fine 

 shallow punctures ; the basal segment thinly clothed with fulvous 

 pubescence ; the sixth segment has a griseous pubescence inter- 

 mixed with black hairs ; beneath, densely clothed with black pu- 

 bescence. B.M. 



Male. Length 3-3^- lines. — Head and thorax brassy black ; the face 

 and cheeks with white pubescence, that above the insertion of the 

 antennae fulvo-ferruginous. Thorax clothed above with fulvo- 

 ferruginous pubescence ; beneath and on the legs it is hoary ; wings 

 as in the female ; metathorax opaque. Abdomen subglobose, 

 shining, and with fine shallow punctures ; the basal segment with 

 thin, pale fulvous pubescence, on the rest of the segments it is 



