The large mandibles of these Bees have supplied the generic 

 appellation of Mcgachile^ which has been retained in justice 

 to Mons. Latreille, although Mons. Dumeril's name of Phyl- 

 lotoma (Leaf-cutters) is more characteristic. They all form 

 their nests either in decaying trees or under ground ; and the 

 skill displayed by these little animals in cutting the petals of 

 flowers and the leaves of plants to construct their curious cells 

 is so wonderful and interesting, that the reader will be highly 

 gratified by referring to the following works, which contain 

 their histories : namely, Reaumur, torn. 6. Mem. 4; Donovan's 

 «' British Insects," vol. 4. p. 3 1 ; Kirby's " Monographia Apum 

 Angliae," vol. 1. p. 156. and vol. 2. p. 244; and Kirby and 

 Spence's "Introduction to Entomology," vol. 1. p. 438 or 441. 

 The following ai*e British species of Megachile : 



1. Willughbiella Ray^ Kirhj, Nob. 



Inhabits the decaying trunks of Willows in low meadows : 

 found in July in Suffolk, and on the banks of the Thames, at 

 Brentford, Fulham, &c. 



2. centuncularis Linn., Fab.,, Kirby. — Schcef. Icon. 262. f. 6. 7. 



— Harris, Exp. t. 49. f. 2. 

 The nests of this Bee are formed in walls and decayed trees; 

 the cells are composed of the leaves of roses, the Laburnum 

 and Mercurialis annua. They are found in August upon 

 Thistles. 



3. Leachella Kirby's MSS. 



The smallest species of the genus, and may be the M. Pa- 

 paveris Lat. Specimens are preserved in the British Museum. 



4. maritima Kirby Mon. Ap. Ang. 2. 242. 43. 



Taken near Landguard Fort, on the coast of Suffolk, in 

 July. 



5. ligniseca Kirby 2. 24'3. 44. tab. 16. Jl 11. mas. — argentata? 



Panz. 99. 16. mas. — centuncularis Paiiz. 55. 12. Jem. — 

 Don. 4f.pl. 120. 

 Found in September. It forms its cells of the leaves of roses 

 and of elms, in the trunks of this tree and of the oak also. 



6. circumcincta Kirby 2. 246. 45, tab. 16. f. 10. /em. 



This Bee was first discovered by the Rev. Dr. Goodenough 

 (the late Lord Bishop of Carlisle), in the month of May, on a 

 bank of a southern aspect at Dartford in Kent. I once dug 

 some of the centunculi out of a bank on the beautiful domains 

 ot Lord Stafford, at Costessey in Norfolk : they were formed 

 of rose leaves. 



7. xanthomelana Kirby 2. 246. 46. — parietina? Fourcroy. Ent. 



Par. 11. 4. 



A single specimen was taken by the Rev. W. Kirby in July, 

 creeping upon a clay bank at Somersham, near Ipswich, Suffolk. 



The plant figured, Mercurialis annua (Annual Mercury), is 

 represented as cut by the M. centuncularis. / 



