This pretty species occurs early in spring, and may be found on the flowers of the common dandelion. It makes a burrow very similar to that of the Halictus, and, like that insect, forms short accessory burrows radiating from the principal shaft.

Another species, Andrena Trimmerana, is seen on Plate XL Fig. 5. The colour of this Bee is black, the thorax beingcovered with a reddish-dun down, and the legs being covered with brownish hairs on their upper surface. The antennse of the female are longer than is usually the case. One of its burrows is seen, from which it is just emerging. One of the larvae is shown at Ihg. 10.

This insect is common near London, and is worthy of attention as being often infested with the remarkable little beetle called the Stylops, which has been described on page 157. At big. 5 the Stylops may be seen just appearing from beneath one of the segments of the abdomen ; and at Fig. 6, at the top of the Plate, the insect is seen as it appears when flying, the peculiar milkiness of the wings being very well given. The species which is most attacked by the Stylops is Andrena convexiusGula. Out of thirty specimens of this insect, not one had escaped the Stylops. It is found in the Isle of Wight and other places, but does not appear to live near London.

Of this enormous genus, nearly seventy species are in the British Museum. Some burrow in loose sand, some in hard ground, and some even prefer very hard, strong paths, over

which there is continual traffic. One species is called by Mr. F. Smith the Kentish Bee {Andrena jAlipes), because it is almost peculiar to Kent, It is a very boldly marked Bee. The down on the head and thorax is black, the abdomen is shining, and the hinder tibiae are silvpry white beneath and brown above. I have found it burrowing in a nearly perpendicular sand-bank at Abbey Wood, and reared several of the Bees from their pupa-cells. The tunnels do not run to any great depth, and I was able to cut out the cells with an ordinary pocket-knife. In one year there was quite a colony ot the Kentish Bee in that spot. It frequents the thistle ; and as it returns to its nest, covered with the white pollen of that flower, it presents a very singular appearance.

above Andrena nitida, on Plate XI. and at big. 7 is

Just seen another Bee belonging to the same family. Its name is Gilissa hcemorrhoidalis. the head is transverse, the ocelli are set in a

In this genus curve upon the crown, and the wings are like those of Andiena. colour of the present species is black, with a spi inkling

The

pale down. The face of the male is densely clothed with of down. On the middle of the thorax bright, but pale yellowish and the rest similar to that ot the face. the down is black, on the first joints of the antennie is pale and on the The down is black, with a few yello\vish hairs along the sides. others towards their ends. There is a slight The wings are clouded between the sexes, the female being decidedly larger difference male, and having a line of bright yellowish hair round than the on the thorax, the rest of the down being grey. the thick patch sixth segments of the abdomen are covered with The fifth and dense golden yellow down. F. Smith, this is a local insect, and seems

According to Mr. itself to places in which the blue-bell grows, that to confine it frequents. The habits of the flower being the only one which of Andrena. There are only two insect are exactly like those species known to inhabit England.

Bee which is shown on Woodcut XXXV.

The very beautiful It has, I believe, no

is our last example of the Andrenidie. its scientific title is Dasypoda kirUpes.

popular name, but

In this genus the ocelli are set in a slight curve on the crown of the head. The upper wings have one marginal and two submarginal cells, the labial palpi have four joints and the maxillary palpi six. Mr. F. Smith calls this ‘ the most beautiful Bee found in this country ; the appearance of the female when loaded with pollen is sufficiently singular to attract the attention of the most apathetic observer.’ There is no difficulty in identifying it, as the very long and dense hair of the legs, especially of the hinder pair, is sufficient to indicate it. The general colour is black, but the abdomen has three white bands. The male may be distinguished by his smaller size and brighter coloming. Each segment of the abdomen is reddish yellow at the upper edge, and is fringed with pale yellow down.

It is one of the burrowers, making its tunnels in sand-banks. It does not appear to breed in the immediate neighbourhood of London, but is plentiful in many parts of Kent, especially those in which sand abounds. Sandown, Isle of Wight, is, for that reason, a favourite locality nf this beautiful insect. The head and hind legs of the male are seen at Figs, c and d. Both the scientific names of this insect refer to the exceedingly long hair of the hinder legs. The word ‘ Dasypoda ’ is Gfreek, and signifies ‘shaggy-footed,’ and the word ‘hirtipes’ has exactly the same signification in Latin.

\ E now come to the Bees or Apidse. In these insects the tongue is very long, and can be folded under the head and breast when not in use. They are divided into several groups or sub-families, the first of which is called Andrenoides, or Andrena-like Bees. They have similar habits to the Andrena. Only two species of this sub-family are known, both belonoinoto the genus Panurgus.

An example of the next sub-family, the CuculiuEe, is given on Plate XI. p ig, 9, and is named Nomada ruficornia. The insects belonging to this group are popularly known as Wasp-bees, because, although evidently Bees, they have a very wasp-like ook about them, especially in the colouring. They have no pollen-gathering apparatus, neither pollen brushes nor pollenscales, and are by some authors termed Denudata, or Naked

ees, m consequence of this peculiarity. The reason for the

s nee of this apparatus is evident enough. Nature never

supplies organs unless they have their work to do, and, as the Bee is a parasitic one, there is no reason why it should take the trouble of gathering pollen. Tlie name of Cuculime, or Cuckoobees, is given to them in consequence of their parasitic habits.

In this genus the antennas are elbowed, and are nearly as long as the thorax. The upper wings have one marginal and three submarginal cells. The last segment of the abdomen is blunt in the females and sharp in the males.

This is a most variable insect in point of colour, but it may be generally described as rust-red, with three black longitudinal lines in the thorax, and with yellow spots and bands on the abdomen. There is but little difference in the dimensions of the sexes.

That these Bees are parasitic is well known, but the particular mode of parasitism is scarcely ascertained.

They enter the burrows of certain Solitary Bees, and in those burrows the young Nomadse are matured. It is supposed that when the Solitary Bee has laid in its stock of pollen, the Cuckoobee enters the burrow, deposits an egg, and goes off to repeat

process elsewhere. When the real owner of the burrow the returns, she finds an egg already laid, takes it for her own, and so goes away and makes a fresh burrow. This, however, is only conjectured, as is the theory that the parasite not only lays an egg, but closes the burrow herself.

One of the most curious points connected with these insects is the fact that the Solitary Bee never interferes with the Mr. F. Smith has the following remarks on this subparasite. ject: ‘I have on several occasions watched with much enjoyof Eucera longicornis ’ (this will be prement a large colony sently described); ‘the males occasionally darting forwards turning sharply round, and as it were with great velocity, then in circles close to the ground ; then darting off again swimming in an unceasing round of sportive enjoyment. Iheir and again whole existence appears to be bound industrious partners, whose round of labour, would occasionally return up in one unceasing home laden with food for their young progeny. it would happen that a Nomada had previously

‘ Sometimes such proved to be the case, slic entered her nest. When it, and, flying off to a short distance, wait would issue from came forth, when she would patiently until the parasite

re-enter and deposit her burden. It will be observed in this instance, that between Eucera and Nomada no resemblance exists in general appearance, one being several times lai’ger than the other, and covered with pubescence of a sombre colour ; whereas the parasite is a gaily-coloured insect, destitute of pubescence, and readily observed from the brightness of its colouring.’

As the result of long, laborious, and minute examination, Mr. Smith is of opinion that the Nomada is parasitic upon the food, and not upon the larva of the Solitary Bee, and that when the latter finds an egg in her burrow, she deserts it and goes off to make another. Altogether, twenty-four British species of a Nomada are known. The generic name Fomada is Greek, and signifies a creature that wanders in search of food and has no fixed home.

On Woodcut XXXVI. Figs. 1 and 2, are shown both sexes of the parasitic bee called Codioxys simplex. One of the most striking points in this genus is the strongly marked difference in form of the two sexes. In the female, as seen at Fig. 2, the abdomen is peculiarly sharp, giving occasion for the generic title of Coelioxys, or ‘ sharp-bellied.’ The abdomen of the male, however, is broad, and boldly toothed at the end. The head is as wide as the thorax, and the ocelli are placed upon the crown in a triangular form ; the eyes are rather lopg and hairy. The thorax is rather globular, and the scutellum has a tooth on either side. The upper wings have one marginal and two submarginal cells, as shown in the illustration.

The present species is perhaps the most plentiful of its genus, of which six British species are known, all being parasitic on Solitary Bees. The colour of the insect is black, with a very pale yellowish down on the head and thorax. The wings are dusky, but translucent, and are darker towards their tips. Tlie abdomen is shining black, with a few large punctures. These Cuckoo-bees are often parasitic on the wellknown Leaf-cutter Bees, one of which is shown at the same IGo- n nf Woodcut.

In the Bee which is drawn on Woodcut XXXVI. Fig. 3 we have an example of parasitism carried out to a curious

extent, as we shall presently see. Its name is Melecta armata. The genus to which this Bee belongs has the head transverse, and the ocelli set in a line upon the crown. The ujjper wings have one marginal and three submarginal cells. There are only two species of Melecta known to inhabit England, the present species being the more common of the two.

•>. Do., female. 3. Melecta armata, female. 4. Osmia n,fa,

]. Coolioxys simplex, male. centnncularis, female. female. o. Megacliile insect is variable, but is mostly as

The colour of the colour is black, and the greater part of follows The general down. Tliere is a tuft of tlie body is covered with ashen grey side of the thorax, and the wings aie white down on either their tips. The abdomen is transparent, but clouded towards the exception of a white patch on either

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