No family of insects has excited greater interest, been better 

 investigated, or more clearly iniderstood than the bees, — cir- 

 cumstances arising no less from tlieir wonderful economy and 

 beautiful organization, than from the labours of some of the 

 species supplying us with the luxuries and necessaries of life ; 

 at once affording both instruction and amusement to the na- 

 turalist, and speculation and profit to the merchant. 



Whilst war like a frost (if I may be allowed the expression) 

 locked up the streams of knowledge that during the suc- 

 ceedino- peace flowed in kindly harmony to instruct and benefit 

 mankind, two of the most illustrious entomologists of the age 

 were (unknown to each other) investigating the same subject; 

 and it is delightful to see how those who take nature and truth 

 for their guides arrive at the same conclusions, although some- 

 times led by different ways. The most perfect production 

 that ever appeared in this country was at that time given to 

 the world from the pen of Mr. Kirby, a work which it is far 

 more easy for me to admire than to praise as it demands : in 

 that work the student has a noble example of a monograph ; 

 his mind is directed " to look through Nature up to Nature's 

 God ;" and so complete is the mass of scientific information, 

 that little appears left to be done by future writers. At the 

 same time Mons. Latreille was employed in arranging the 

 family, including the exotic genera, and naming the groups, 

 which first appeared in his ^^ HiUoire Naturelle" vol. 3.; 

 and in his subsequent works, the " Genera Crustnceornm" and 

 " Considerations Generales" this admirable undertaking was 

 perfected. With these advantages over every other family of 

 British insects, it is no wonder that the Apidce should become 

 the favourites of the entomologist ; I confess they are so with 

 me, and I anticipate much pleasure in the illustration of them. 

 The genus now selected is extremely interesting in its habits 

 of life; tor a detailed account of which I must refer to Kirby's 

 " Monographia Apum Anglia" remarking that it is the only 

 species of die genus found in this country. It is by no means 

 a rare insect in the neighbourhood of London. In the months 

 of July and August 1823 Dr. Stephenson took it in great 

 abundance in lanes at South Lambeth and Chelsea : I am in- 

 formed by him that it occurs chiefly on dry sandy weedy 

 banks ; and like most insects of this tribe, it may be taken on 

 the wing during the whole of the day when the weather is 

 fine, occasionally settling on various plants, especially those 

 that are covered widi short woolly hair or down, the Stachys 

 sylvatica (PI. Q5.\ Glcchoma hederacea, &c., the tomentum of 

 which it strips off' for the purposes of nidification, forming its 

 nest in hollow trees and odier situations. 



Mr. Kirby having observed it to frequent the Agrostcmvia 

 Coronaria (an Italian Plant), I have figured an English spe- 

 cies of the same genus, A. Githago (Corn Cockle). 



