FAMILIiE. (Jpls. *4fr. c. 1. a.) 153 



jflie lower fold of the proboscis from all injury, 

 when the insect is employing them ; a peculiarity, 

 which, at least in the leaf cutter bees, did not es- 

 cape the accurate eye of Reaumur. " Elles ont 

 toutes un trompe," says he, " qui pour I'essentiel 

 est composee comme celle des mouches a miel, 

 mais qui a son origine est recouverte en dessus et 

 par les cotes par une sorte d'etui ecailleux, qui n' a 

 point ete accorde a la trompe de ces dernieres 

 mouches. Cette piece sert a empecher que la 

 trompe ne soit trop rudement frottee par les bords 

 fie la piece que la coupeuse detache. Elle a peut- 

 etre encore d'autres usages : peut-etre donne-t-elle 

 plus de facilite aux dents pour couper juste ; elle 

 Jeur ofFre un appui, elle tient lieu d'une espece de 

 petite table, d'une espece d'etabli(i)." Tlie males of 

 this family are usually without the additional ab- 

 dominal segment observable in those of others. 



I have divided this family into two sections, the 

 second distinguished from the other by a remark- 

 able covering of hair for conveying pollen upon the 

 venter of the female. The subdivision of the first 

 section which we are now considering, is charac- 

 terized by the conical and very acute abdomen of 

 the female, with an anus not at all incui-ved, and 

 by the singular spines which arm the anus of the 

 males. These two sexes have been usually ac- 

 counted distinct species, under the names of ^pis 

 conica and quadridentata; and all such insects as 

 {t) Reaum. torn. 6. Mem. 4. p. 122. Tab. 11. fig. S—Q. e. 



have 



