CHAPTER V. 



SOCIAL HOMES (continued). 



So-called humble-bees eighteen or twenty species in this 

 country comparison of their habitations with the hive 

 Description of nest of Carder the coping of moss interior 

 dispersion of company and hybernation of females 

 work of latter in spring Deep burrowers among British 

 wild bees Honey-bees in the East Stingless Meliponae 

 and Trigonas of South America and their homes supposed 

 presence of several fertile females sentinels to guard the 

 gates True social wasps their building material and dis- 

 position of combs Particulars of home of common English 

 wasp British tree-wasps the papery envelope Nest of 

 hornet Description of combs of Polistes and Icarias with- 

 out cover Apoi'ca has a cover but not distinct Card-board 

 makers Wasps as honey-gatherers. 



LEAVING the marvellous structures of the hive out of 

 the question, in this part of the world the only bee 

 tribe that construct homes by the united labour of 

 the society are the wild so-called Humble Bees. 

 Every one is acquainted with them, big-bodied, and 

 velvety, and heavy flyers, on the wing emitting that 

 deep sonorous hum that has earned for them their 

 popular title with its numerous variations. They arc 

 known not only as Humble, but as Hummel, Bumble, 



