Insects. 2043 



nous. Abdomen subovate, closely and finely punctured ; the seg- 

 ments have a pale marginal fascia, sometimes white, the first generally 

 interrupted ; beneath rather coarsely punctured. 



Male. — (Length 3 — 3j lines). Brassy green, closely and finely 

 punctured ; the apical margin of the clypeus, the labrum and mandi- 

 bles yellow, the latter ferruginous at their apex ; the antennae as long 

 as the head and thorax; the joints subarcuate, fuscous above, beneath 

 of a fulvous yellow, except the three apical joints, which are fuscous ; 

 the scape black. Thorax, a central longitudinal scratch and a short 

 one over the tegulae, which are piceous ; the wings hyaline and iri- 

 descent ; the legs of a sulphurous yellow, the femora and tibiae being 

 stained in parts with rufous ; the claws rufous ; the coxae and tro- 

 chanters nigro-piceous ; the anterior pair beneath, and the intermedi- 

 ate and posterior at their base and apex, more or less yellow. Abdo- 

 men linear, broadest towards the apex ; the base of the intermediate 

 segments depressed, a slight griseous pubescence at the sides, and 

 sometimes a little on the margins of the segments ; beneath the mar- 

 gins piceous. 



I have scarcely a doubt of the male of this species being the Apis 

 tumulorum of Linneus, but as the two authentic specimens in the 

 Linnean cabinet are gummed on a card, and have been pressed flat on 

 their sides, it is difficult to determine : after a careful examination of 

 them, I think they are identical with our insect ; but as it admits of a 

 doubt I have not changed the name. I have frequently found the 

 sexes of this species entering the same burrows, and they are com- 

 monly found in company, frequenting the flowers of the dandelion 

 (Leontodon). I think this is undoubtedly the Apis flavipes of Linn., 

 and also the Hylaeus flavipes of Fab. 



Sp. 4. Halictus .eratus. 

 Melitta cerata, Kirby. 



Female. — (Length 2J—3 lines). Head and thorax brassy green, 

 closely and finely punctured ; antennae black, the apical joints slightly 

 piceous beneath ; the mandibles ferruginous at their apex. Thorax 

 shining ; the metathorax truncate posteriorly ; the tegulae piceous ; 

 the wings subhyaline, splendidly iridescent; the legs black, the 

 claws ferruginous, their pubescence griseous, that on the tarsi beneath 

 is pale fulvous. Abdomen black, slightly tinged with aeneous, smooth 

 and shining ; the margins of the segments slightly piceous ; a little 

 patch of white pubescence on the basal margin of the second segment 



