FAMILIiE. (Jpis. **. c. 1. a.) I5f 



individuals of its first subdivision are distinguished 

 by biarticulate exterior and interior palpi, and a 

 horizontal abdomen, flattish above, or not so con- 

 vex as in the other subdivisions, v^hich the insect 

 will sometimes elevate so as to form an obtuse 

 angle with thorax. The entertaining history of the 

 insects that form this subdivision has attracted the 

 attention of many naturalists : so early as the year 

 1670 it was noticed by Ray, Dr. M. Lister, Wil- 

 kighby, and Sir Edward King(fi). The Divine 

 Wisdom has instructed these insects to form very 

 wonderful cells for their young of singular mate- 

 rials, the leaves of trees, especially the rose, from 

 which circumstance they have been known by the 

 name of leaf cutter bees, [coupeuses de feuilles. 

 Reaum). Reaumur has given a very particular 

 account of their history, preceded by a humorous 

 story of the alarm spread by the discovery of their 

 nidi in a Countf}'^ village in France. This story is 

 so admirably abridged in a paper, entitled, miracula 

 insectorum in the third volume of the Amoenitates 

 jicademicce, that I think my readers will not be 

 displeased at my inserting it here. 



" De hortulano historiam Nob. Reaumur, Gal- 

 liae decus, adfert, qui hortum fodiens plurimos in- 

 venit centunculos adeo mirifice convolutos, ut vi 

 naturale extitisse nunquam sibi imaginari posset, 



(0) Ray's Letters, p. 72 — 74. Histor. Insect, p. 245. Philo- 

 86ph. Transact, abridged^ by Lowthorp., vol. 2. chap, Q. §. 17- 

 p. 1—4. 



p0ti^5 



