MOSS OR CARDER BEE. 255 



comb it; when the pieces are sufficiently disen- 

 tangled, they are placed under the body by the first 

 pair of legs; the intermediate pair receives them 

 and delivers them to the last, which pushes them as 

 far as possible beyond the anus. When by this pro- 

 cess the insect has formed behind it a small mass of 

 moss well carded, then either the same or another 

 who takes her turn in the business, pushes it nearer 

 to the nest. Thus small heaps of moss are conveyed to 

 its foot ; and in a similar manner they are elevated 

 to its summit, or where they may be most wanted. 

 A file of four or five insects is occupied at the same 

 time in this employment.* 



DONOVAN'S HUMBLE-BEE. 



(BOMBUS DONOVANELLUS.) 



PLATE XVII. Fig. 1. 

 Apis Donovanella, Kirby's Monog. Ap. ii. 357, PI. 18, fig. 6. 



THE length of this insect very little exceeds seven 

 lines ; the prevailing colour black, all the parts very 

 hirsute ; head and antennae black ; the mouth with 

 reddish hairs ; thorax black, with a dense patch of 

 lemon-yellow hairs in front in the female, but ob- 

 scure in the male ; abdomen between triangular and 

 globose, the base with a broad light-yellow band, 

 then a black one, the three last segments red ; legs 

 black ; wings tinged with dusky-brown. 



This species is named in honour of the late Mr. 

 Donovan, whose extensive works, containing accur- 

 ate delineations both of British and foreign insects, 

 as well as of other animals, have tended greatly to 

 * Reaumur's M^'fi. torn. vi. 



