256 
BRITISH BEES. 
as the third, and, like it, subclavate, both being more 
robust than the second; labium not half the length of 
the tongue, and acutely triangular at its inosculation; 
maxilla subhastate, not quite so long as the tongue; 
maxillary palpi five-jointed, about one-third the length 
of the maxillae, the basal joint clavate, short, and robust; 
the second elongate, subclavate, the remainder gradually 
but slightly diminishing in substance and length, the 
terminal not so long as the basal joint. Thorax very 
retuse, and its divisions scarcely distinguishable; scu- 
tellwn bidentate; metathorax abruptly truncated; wings 
with three closed submarginal cells, the second the 
smallest, irregularly triangular, and receiving the first 
recurrent nervure just beyond its centre, the third sub¬ 
marginal considerably larger than the second, sublunu- 
late, but angulated externally and receiving the second 
recurrent nervure about its centre; the legs robust and 
spinulose, especially the tibiae externally (where they are 
very convex) and the femora beneath; the claws short, 
strong and bifid. The abdomen conical, truncated, and 
retuse at its base, the apical segment with a central 
triangular plate ridged laterally, and fimbriated at its 
sides with strong setae. 
The male scarcely differs in personal appearance, 
excepting that its antennae are more robust and its 
ornamental pubescence is more profuse, its posterior 
tibiae very robust and almost triangular, and the termi¬ 
nal segment of its abdomen slightly emarginate and con¬ 
cave at its extremity. 
native species. 
1 . punctata , Fabricius, $ $ . 6 lines. (Plate XI. 
fig- 1 S ? -) 
