Insects. 2209 



pale fulvous pubescence ; on the apical ones it is black, observable 

 when viewed laterally ; the margins of the basal and four following 

 segments have fulvous fasciae, the sixth is fringed with black, and the 

 seventh concealed. 



This is a scarce species. I never met with more than single spe- 

 cimens, occasionally ; of the male I took some numbers eight or ten 

 years ago. I have taken it at Battersea, Charlton, Gravesend, and in 

 Hampshire. 



The specimens described are those in the finest condition : the pu- 

 bescence of the male of this species is frequently changed to pale 

 lemon-colour, or nearly white, as it also changes in the preceding 

 species. 



Frederick Smith. 



5, High Street, Newington, 

 June, 1848. 



Appendix to F. Smith's Descriptions of British Bees. By Frederick 

 Smith, Esq., Curator to the Entomological Society. 



Sphecodes rugosus, Smith. 



Male. — (Length 5 — 5j lines). Black ; the head rather wider than 

 the thorax; the face densely clothed with silvery white pubescence ; 

 the joints of the antennae much swollen or sub-moniliforra. Thorax 

 very coarsely punctured ; the metathorax rugose, truncate ; the tegulae 

 rufo-piceous, w 7 ith a yellow spot in front ; the wings sub-fuscous, 

 darkest at their apical margins ; the pubescence on the legs is silvery 

 white; the apical joints of the tarsi ferruginous. Abdomen entirely 

 red and strongly punctured ; the margins of the segments smooth, 

 shining and slightly depressed. 



Of this species I possess two specimens, which I purchased, to- 

 gether with a number of British bees, of the late Mr. Pelerine. It is 

 said to have been captured at Bideford, Devon. There is also a 

 pair in the cabinet of the British Museum, said to have been taken 

 at Kingsbridge, Devon, by Dr. Leach. This is the largest species 

 found in this country, and so conspicuous an insect, that when ento- 

 mologists shall have ceased to be almost entirely devoted to the col- 

 lection of Lepidoptera, and those whose leisure will allow of their 

 visiting remote districts, shall devote some portion of their time to the 



