Insects. 2103 



closely resemble this species ; but in that insect the thorax is much 

 more coarsely punctured, the punctures larger and not so close to- 

 gether as in minuta. This species is very abundant. 1 quite agree 

 with St. Fargeau that this cannot be the minuta of Schrank. The 

 habit of nidification is quite conclusive : none of the Andrenides 

 burrow in wood. 



Sp. 9. Halictus minutissimus. 

 Melitta minutissima, Kirby. 



Female. — (Length 2 — 2 J lines). Black ; head very finely and 

 closely punctured ; the mandibles ferruginous at their apex. Thorax 

 regularly punctured, but not so closely as on the head ; a central dor- 

 sal impression and a scratch over each tegula ; metathorax posteriorly 

 rotundate ; tegulae piceous ; nervures nigro-piceous ; wings subhy- 

 aline, iridescent ; legs nigro-piceous. Abdomen shining, oblong- 

 ovate ; the margins of the segments sometimes rufo-piceous. 



Male.- — (Length 2 lines). Black; the antennae not quite so long 

 as the head and thorax, fulvous beneath ; the scape black ; the apex 

 of the clypeus, the labrum and the mandibles yellow, the latter black 

 at their base and ferruginous at their apex ; the tegulae nigro-piceous ; 

 the wings hyaline, clouded at their apical margins, splendidly iri- 

 descent; the tarsi rufo-piceous. Abdomen ovate, slightly pubescent, 

 the intermediate segments depressed at their base. 



Of this species, the smallest of the genus, I possess a specimen, 

 which is Stylopized : so small is the exerted head of the Stylops that 

 it is not observable without a glass. 



Sp. 10. Halictus nitidiusculus. 

 Melitta nitidiuscula, Kirby. 



Female. — (Length 2 — 3 lines). Black ; the antennae fulvous be- 

 neath ; the scape black ; the apex of the mandibles ferruginous. 

 Thorax slightly aeneous, shining and punctate ; the tegulae and 

 nervures piceous ; wings subhyaline ; the legs piceous or nigro-pi- 

 ceous; the tarsi rufo-piceous. Abdomen frequently nigro-piceous, 

 shining and delicately punctate; margins of the segments slightly 

 piceous. 



Male. — (Length 2j — 2j lines). Black ; the face clothed with short 

 white pubescence ; the antennae fulvous beneath ; the scape black ; 

 the apical margin of the clypeus, the labrum and mandibles very pale 



