ANTHIDIUM. 279 



continued until the completion of the five or six cells 

 necessary to fill the tube, when another is formed with 

 the same routine, if her store of eggs is not exhausted ; 

 and the orifice of the tube, upon the completion of the 

 last cell, which is closed in the usual way, is filled up 

 with earth. Should any casualty interfere with her la- 

 bours or temporarily derange their utility, without the 

 obstruction being one that would permanently affect it, 

 the remarkable patience and rapidity with which the 

 repairs are effected, or the obstructions removed, is 

 worthy of all admiration, the o-ropyr), or love of off- 

 spring, being the predominant passion which overthrows 

 and controls every difficulty. 



When full fed, the larva spins a thick cocoon of silk, 

 which is attached to the sides of the cell; the outer 

 coating of this cocoon is of a coarser and browner silk 

 than the interior, which is formed of very delicate threads 

 of a slaty-whitish colour and of a close texture, and 

 which is as lustrous as satin. The exact period of their 

 evolution from this sjate is not recorded, but it is pro- 

 bable that they pass the winter enveloped in their cocoon 

 as pupae, and in their season come forth the following 

 year. 



Genus 20. ANTHIDIUM, Fabricius. 



(Plate XIII. fig. 1 c? $ 



APIS ** c 2 & Kirby. 



Gen. Char. : BODY subglabrous. HEAD transverse, as 

 wide as the thorax ; ocelli in a triangle on the vertex, 

 which is flat ; antennae shortish, slender, filiform, sub- 

 geniculated; the scape stouter than the flagellum. sub- 



