BEE. 
347 
Paris, anrl make his lord acquainted with the cir- 
cumstance. This gentleman, though not quite so 
much alarmed as the honest gardener, yet could 
not feel himself at perfect ease ; and therefore 
thought it advisable to consult his surgeon upon 
the business, who, though a man of eminence in 
his profession, declared himself utterly unacquaint- 
ed with the nature of what was shewn him, but 
took the liberty of advising that the Abbe Nollet, 
as a philosopher, should be consulted, whose well- 
known researches in natural knowledge might per- 
haps enable him to elucidate the matter. It was 
in consequence of this advice that the Abbe re- 
ceived the visit above-mentioned, and had the 
satisfaction of relieving all parties from their em- 
barrassment, by shewing them several nests formed 
on a somewhat similar plan by other insects, and 
assuring them that those in their possession were 
the work of Insects also. He opened some of the 
rose-leaf nests, shewed them the inclosed larvae, 
and requested permission to send the remainder 
to Mons^ Reaumur, who pursued their investiga- 
tion with much eagerness, and soon completed the 
natural history of the animal. 
Of the villose or hairy Bees, popularly called 
Humble-Bees, one of the largest and most com^ 
mon is the Apis lapidaria of Linnaeus, so named 
from the circumstance of its nest being generally 
situated in strong or gravelh’- places. This species 
is entirely of a deep black colour, except the end 
of the abdomen, which is red or orange-coloured, 
more or less deep in dilfcrent individuals. oThe 
