FAMILI^. (Jpls. **. c. 1.) 

 joint only; by maxillae dilated at their apex ; by 

 filiform antennae, the first joint of the apex not 

 being attenuated at its base; by posterior tibiae 

 furnished with a corbicula or little basket for car- 

 rying wax; by the auricles which are observable 

 at the base of the posterior plantae, and by their 

 prismatical abdomen. Besides these differences, 

 the individuals of it are distinguished in their 

 economy from all other bees, by two remarkable 

 circumstances, they are gregarious, and they make 

 wax : reasons surely sufficient and satisfactory 

 for separating them from the false Bomhina- 

 trices, A violacea and its affinities. Agreement 

 with the genuine Boinhinatrkes in these peculiari- 

 ties will sufficiently justify me for considering A. 

 mellifica as belonging to a subdivision of the same 

 family. Indeed, the single circumstance that the 

 ■ALL WISE AUTHOR of nature has instructed these 

 alone of all others to make wax and live together 

 in societies, is the strongest of all possible proofs 

 of their affinity. Reaumur, whose judgment ought 

 to have great weight in these matters, was evi- 

 dently, in this respect, of the same opinion with 

 myself, for he places the Bomhinatriccs next to A, 

 mellifica, and looks upon them as related to each 

 other in the same degree that the rude cottagers of 

 a country village are to the more polished inhabi- 

 tants of a populous city (w). 



(/») Reaum. ubi supr. Pref, p. 3. 



This 



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