v] BEES 71 



are not found in localities from which these Halicti 

 are absent. On the other hand, several witnesses 

 bear testimony to having seen Sphecodes making 

 burrows for themselves. Hence the doubt arises as 

 to whether Sphecodes has not yet completely fallen 

 into parasitic habits ; or, on the other hand, is on the 

 upward path, and has only recently begun to collect 

 and store pollen for its young. There is much need 

 of close and patient observation of this interesting 

 genus before a final verdict can be pronounced. 



Fig. 13. Dasypoda liirtipes 

 (about twice natural size) 



This chapter would be incomplete without some 

 reference to the most beautiful not only of the 

 Andrenids, but of all our British bees, Dasypoda 

 hlrtipes, as it is aptly, though somewhat pleonastically 

 named. This is a large bee, not uncommon in sandy 

 places, and in shape is very like an Andrena. The 

 head and thorax are clothed with yellowish brown 

 hair ; the abdomen is black with conspicuous belts of 



