REVIEW 79 



appearance, and shortly afterwards a few females were developed. 

 They contmued to come forth at intervals until the end of June : at 

 this time there remained thirty-five undeveloped cocoons. On 

 opening one or to two, in 1851, they proved to contain living larvae. 

 These cocoons were again carefully closed, and the whole left 

 undisturbed until the month of April of the following year (1852), 

 when on examination they were found still to contain living larvae. 

 At the end of May these changed to pupae, which about the end of 

 June became perfect insects, when both sexes made their appearance. 

 This, then, was the result: a portion of eggs deposited in 1849 had 

 been three years arriving at maturity, or rather, in all probability, 

 their development had been retarded ; when discovered in 1849 

 one-third of the cocoons were found to be empty; in 1850 a few 

 males and females appeared; in 1851 the same occurrence took 

 place, and then the stone was presented to the British Museum, and 

 placed in my hands for observation ; in April, 1852, all the rest of the 

 cocoons produced bees or parasites, the latter proving to be a species 

 of ruby-tailed fly, Chrysis bicolor, a species new to the British list. 

 In the first instance all the deposit was subjected to the same 

 influences, and had produced larv?e. The same may be said of them 

 when taken by Mr. Robertson to Edinburgh ; and yet only a few of 

 each sex were developed. The following year produced the same 

 result; and the third year the rest appeared. What was the cause 

 of this retarded development it is difficult to conceive." — P. 150. 



In his prefatory remarks to the genus Saropoda, Mr. Smith 

 reminds us of rare times of luxurious idleness, when we have 

 laid upon thyme-scented banks, conscious only of perfect 

 quietness and rest, after the fatiguing work of a hot morning's 

 collecting. Then have we been awakened from our day- 

 dream by the busy hum of these lively insects : — 



" Of all the busy bees that revel in the beauty of a summer's day, 

 Saroiwda himaculata must ever be an especial favourite. It is only 

 to be found when it is sunniest, brigbtest, and hottest, — when 

 summer days are summer days indeed. Who has not heard its 

 merry hum '? Who has not seen it, when for a moment it settles on 

 a flower, or rests on some sunny bank panting with delight? the eyes 

 splendid as opals : could their brilliancy be preserved, this bee 

 would rival and challenge admiration with the most brilliant of its' 

 tribe. It is a local species, but abounds in many localities. It flies 

 with incredible swiftness, darting from flower to flower with the 

 rapidity of lightning ; again settling, it resumes its loud and cheerful 

 note, merry and joyous as the cricket on the hearth." — P. 185. 



In introducing the important Bomhi (humble-bees), Mr. 

 Smith says : — 



