306 Mr. n. E. Bodkin's Notes on 



bees possess a peculiar smell, due to the character of the 

 substance which they collect on their hind-lej^s. A large 

 nest observed on one occasion on the branches of a Pimento 

 tree {Pimentn officinalis). 



M. riifirenlris, Lep., var. Jlavoliiu'dht. Friese. Tuniatu- 

 mari. P]sse(iuebo River. 



M('Upo)ui anutUhea. F. A connnon and widely distributed 

 species. May be observed on the blossoms of most garden 

 plants, and is particularly fond of feeding on over-ripe 

 fruit. It may also frequently be seen collecting mud 

 from damp paths, creeks, etc. Known locally as " Tarbaby 

 bees." It has a habit of collecting the scrap-rubljcr from 

 recently tapped trees of Herea brasUiensis. 



M. rufiventris, Lep. l^ockstone, Essequebo River. 



M. dallalorreana, Friese. East Coast, Demerara. 



M. nmtata, Lep. Upper Demerara River. 



Crenus Apis, Linn. 



A. mellifera, L. Only a small number of hives of the 

 domestic bee are kept in the Colony, and these are prin- 

 cipally owned by the Chinese and Portuguese. The honey 

 produced is of good quality and very sweet. Fresh stock 

 is usually imported from the United States. They are 

 mostly " Italian bees." The Wax Moth {Galleria niellonella, 

 L.) is common and causes much damage. 



Family VESPIDAE. 

 Subfamily VESPINAE. 

 Genus Polistes, Latr. 



P. pacijicus, F. Essequebo Coast. An uncommon 

 species. 



P. analis, F. A fairly common species in the interior. 



P. versicolor, Oliv. A common species on the coast 

 lands. 



P. goeldii, Ducke. A rare species in the interior. 



P. canadensis, L., var. aniazonicus, 8chulz. The com- 

 monest species of Polistes in the Colony, occurring every- 

 where. Unless severely molested it rarely attacks people, 

 but its sting is both powerful and painful, and causes a 

 severe swelling. Large nests are rarely seen, the usual 

 number of cells being about twenty. Beneath bridges, 

 houses, on the rafters, under the eaves, beneath the plat- 

 form of railway stations, behind pictures, etc., are favourite 



