G70 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XVI. 



Himalayas, the leaf pieces used were merely tightly wedged in their 

 places. The cells are placed end to end as shown in Fig. 61 B, five to 

 seven cells forming a series and four to six series are believed to be 

 constructed by one pair of this bee, the mass being placed in a hollow in 

 masonry or similar position. Each cell when completed is half filled 

 with pollen and an egg laid in it. This bee is much infested by parasites 

 and is also eaten by the Grey Hornbill {Meniceros bicornis). A Lower 

 Burman species makes its nest in the young shoots of teak saplings, 

 entering by a hole at one side. One generation of the fly issues 

 towards the end of January. 



Megachile lanata, shown in Fig. 62, is the common bee found in 



Indian houses and especially verandahs. 



Borne states that both sexes take part in 



constructing the cells. These cells are formed 



of clay and a hollow cavity of almost any 



kind will be made use of; the back of a book, 



an empty punkha-rope hole in the wall, the 



Fig. 62.— Mega chile lanata. barrel of a rifle or gun, &c, are often found 

 The mason-tee. (United 1'ro- . . 



vinces.) tenanted by the cells ot this insect. 



The Social Bees (SOCIALES) include the genera Bombus, Meli- 

 pona (Trigona) and Apis. 



Bombus or the bumble bees are more like wasps in their habits 



than bees in that the societies die 



off at the end of the season, only 



a few females living through the 



winter, each of which starts a 



new colony the following spring. 



Bombus arientalis is a large 



black, yellow and red bumble 



bee, very common about Darji- 



liug. It is shown in Fig. 63. 



Males, females and workers are 



Fig. 63 — Bomlus orienlalh. A common 

 present in the nests. These latter Darjiling bee. (Darjiiing.) 



are found in the ground amongst moss, leaves, &c. 



Melipona includes several species of very small bees which are common 

 in India, but little is known about their life histories. They are sting- 



Home. Trans. Zool. Soc, Lond., vii., 1870, p. 178. 



