274 THE ANTHOPHILA. 



many species it is exceeded in length by the apical 

 portion,, or true tongue, whilst in others this is com- 

 paratively short. Besides these characters, the Bees 

 usually exhibit a body more or less clothed with 

 hair, which is of service to them in collecting the 

 fine pollen ; and the four anterior tibiae each possess 

 only a single spur. 



The short-tongued species, including the genus 

 Andrena and its allies, are all solitary in their habits, 

 that is to say, although they may often be seen in 

 great numbers together upon a sunny bank, or in 

 some other favourable situation, they never form a 

 society working together for a common end, but each 

 female forms her own nest, and collects the necessary 

 supply of poUen for the support of her own progeny. 

 The species select various situations for the con- 

 struction of their nests, some preferring sandy loca- 

 lities, others clay- or gravel-banks, but in most cases 

 their proceedings are very similar ; they dig into the 

 ground or the side of a bank to a depth of from six 

 to ten inches, terminating their burrows with a 

 small oval chamber for the reception of an e^^ and 

 of a little ball of pollen sufficient for the consumption 

 of the larva. Sometimes the mother Bee, instead of 

 forming a separate burrow for each egg, terminates a 

 single passage with several branches, each of which 

 leads to a chamber in which she deposits an instalment 

 of her treasure. This business concluded, she fills 

 up the mouth of the burrow, and proceeds with her 

 labours until her stock of eggs is exhausted. These 

 Bees make their appearance in the perfect state for the 

 most part in the spring and early summer, although 

 a few are autumnal insects, and some, according to 

 Mr. Smithes observations, appear to breed twice in 



