14 HVMEXOPTERA ACULEATA. 



characteristic iu sculpture or form. Some genera have the 

 polleu carrying apparatus on the ventral segments of the 

 species, these being densely clothed with hairs; these 

 genera have been collected into a family called Basijgadrse 

 or Gantrilegides. The sting consists of a sheath and two 

 darts, the darts being grooved so as to fit on to two 

 longitudinal carinse, whose transverse section is shaped 

 somewhat like the rail of a railroad which extend along the 

 sides of the groove of the sheath. By tliis arrangement the 

 darts can move up and down along the groove, and yet 

 retain their position parallel to it. The actual incision when 

 a bee stings is made by the sheath, but it is deepened by 

 the darts which can be projected beyond its apex. The 

 poison passes down the groove of the sheath, which is 

 closed by the darts ; both darts and sheath are more or less 

 serrate near the apex. At the base the darts and sheath 

 are prolonged laterally into two curved sclerites, which 

 terminate in what Lacaze Duthier calls the " ecaitles." These 

 more or less embrace the base of the apparatus, and vary 

 very much in their shapes and the form of their attachments. 



Collecting. 



This requires more care aud observation sthan in most 

 orders, and can only be followed satisfactorily if the sun 

 is shining, as on a cloudy day the Aculeates, except 

 the social species, rarely come out. From 9 a.m. to noon 

 or 1 p.m. is about the best time. After this they are certainly 

 rarer, especially the ? . The insects are mostly active, 

 some excessively so. One of the chief difficul ties is to secure 

 the males of some of the species. These are apt to fly about 

 very rapidly, rarely settling, aud it requires good eyesight 

 and quick action to catch them while on the wing, whereas 

 to wait till they settle would mean losing hours of time 

 over a few captures. I generally use a very small gauze 

 net, the ring of which is about seven inches in diameter. 

 This, on a short stick about two feet long, is, I believe, the 



