PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS. 9 



the poverty of our language in vernacular terms to express 

 them distinctively ; for even the name of " wild bees," 

 in as far as it has been applied to any except the ' ' honey 

 bee " in a wildered state, is a usage of modern introduc- 

 tion, and of date subsequent to their examination and 

 appreciation. Our native tongue, in the words " bee," 

 "wasp," "fly," and "ant," compasses all those thou- 

 sands of different winged and unwinged insects, which 

 modern science comprises in the two very extensive 

 Orders in entomology of the Hymenoptera and the Di~ 

 ptera ; thus exhibiting how very poor common language 

 is in words to note distinctive differences in creatures, 

 even where the differences are so marked, and the habits 

 so dissimilar, as in the several groups constituting these 

 Orders. But progressively extending knowledge, and a 

 more familiar intimacy with insects and their habits, 

 will doubtless, in the course of time, supervene, as old 

 aversions, prejudices, and superstitions wear out, when 

 by the light of instruction we shall gradually arouse to 

 perceive that "His breath has passed that way too;" 

 and that, therefore, they all put forth strong claims to 

 the notice and admiration of man. 



It is highly improbable that ordinary language will 

 ever find distinctive names to indicate genera, and far 

 less species : and although we have some few words 

 which combine large groups, such as " gnats," " flesh- 

 flies," "gad-flies," "gall-flies," " dragon-flies," "sand 

 wasps," " humble bees," etc. etc. ; and, although the 

 small group, it is my purpose in the following pages to 

 show in all their attractive peculiarities, has had several 

 vernacular denominations applied to them to indicate 

 their most distinctive characteristics, such as "cuckoo 

 bees," "carpenter bees," "mason bees," "carding bees," 



