Insects. 5409 



The Sovereign Bee. — Some time ago I announced, on the authority of a corre- 

 spondent, the capture of a new species of bee. I was told that five specimens were 

 taken, and that a gentleman gave five pounds for them. Since this announcement I 

 have been constantly applied to by letter for further particulars : as these applications 

 continue to increase, I ask the favour of replying through the 'Zoologist.' I have 

 again applied to my correspondent for information, who says, " With regard to the 

 Bombus you enquire about, I can give no further information." Now here i6 a little 

 information obtained, — I asked about a bee, and it turns out to be a Bombus. My 

 object in this communication is principally to request the possessor of this valuable 

 species to oblige the Hymenopterists of this country by publishing the name of the 

 species: the possession of such a novelty must be a high gratification, and he may be 

 assured that it will be greatly enhanced by making known to entomologists generally 

 the collection which contains the treasure. — Frederick Smith. 



Capture of Halictus maculatus at Sandown, Isle of Wight. — When at Sandown 

 Bay, on the 21st of July last, I chanced to obtain Halictus maculatus among the 

 Hymenoptera I captured there. I am indebted to my friend Mr. F. Smith, of the 

 British Museum, for kindly naming it: in his 'Monograph' he states, "This very 

 distinct and pretty little bee has only been twice captured." — W. C. Unwin; St. Aunts, 

 Lewes, December 8, 1 856. 



Capture of Peryphus flluviatilis and Tachys bistriatus. — In October last my brother 

 and myself had the good fortune to capture several specimens of P. fluviatilis on the 

 banks of the Trent below Newark. This species has, I believe, been only once before 

 taken in England, when it was found by Mr. Atfield, of Newark, near the same 

 locality. I also this year met with T. bistriatus, in August, near Luccomb, in the Isle 

 of Wight. — A. Matthews ; Market Harborough, November 29, 1856. 



Description of a Species of Bledius new to the British List. — I met with the under- 

 mentioned species in the sands at Exmouth, under marine rejectamenta, on the 20th of 

 September; they were found in company with Broscus cephalotes, Calathus melano- 

 cephalus, Pogonus chalceus,Ophonus pubescens, &c. The Bledius appear to be rare, 

 at least I could not find more than five specimens ; one male I sent to Mr. Westwood, 

 and two pairs I have by me: it is undoubtedly a very distinct species, and a very rich 

 addition to the small number of British species belonging to the genus. 

 Bledius hispidus, Parf. 



Black; head very finely punctured. Thorax and elytra dark piceous, with nume- 

 rous large shallow scattered punctures, and very thickly and finely punctured between; 

 thorax with a smooth dorsal furrow ; the elytra rather flat above, and depressed along 

 the suture, the edges of which are slightly raised into a smooth ridge; apex of elytra 

 slightly truncate. Abdomen margined, shining black, with a few largish depressions 

 towards the apex of each segment, and very finely punctured between, the apex of 

 each segment having a narrow, smooth, polished fascia. Antennse and palpi rusty 

 piceous; the apical joints of the latter having a dark annulus in the centre; mouth, 

 legs and apex of abdomen pale ferruginous ; the base of the femora darker. The 

 male has a deflexed, finely punctured sharp horn on the anterior portion of the thorax, 

 projecting slightly beyond the head ; the apex testaceous and pilose. The whole insect 

 clothed with short, stiff yellow bristle-like hairs, particularly on the thorax and elytra ; 

 those on the margins of the abdominal segments being longer than the rest. 

 Length If line. 



Female. — Differs in no respect from the male, with the exception of the thoracic 

 XV. K 



