NOTES BY THE WAY. 141 



tny pocket. By day it would barely move, and could 

 not be stimulated or frightened into any degree of 

 activity ; but at night it was alert and wide awake* 

 Of its habits I know little, but it is a pretty and 

 harmless creature. Under another stone was still 

 another species, the S. Subviolacea, larger, of a dark 

 plum-color, with two rows of bright yellow spots 

 down its back. It evinced more activity than its fel- 

 low of the moon-bespattered garb. I tiave also found 

 the little musical red newt under stones, and several 

 small, dark species. 



But to return to the solitary bee. When you ga 

 a-hunting of the honey-bee, and are in quest of a spec- 

 imen among the asters or golden-rod in some remote 

 field to start a line with, you shall see how much this 

 little native bee resembles her cousin of the social 

 hive. There appear to be several varieties, but the 

 one I have in mind is just the size of the honey-bee, 

 and of the same gejieral form and color, and its man- 

 ner among the flowers is nearly the same. On close 

 inspection, its color proves to be lighter, while the 

 under side of its abdomen is of a rich bronze. The 

 body is also flatter and less tapering, and the curve 

 inclines upward, rather than downward. You per- 

 ceive it would be the easiest thing in the world for 

 the bee to sting an enemy perched upon its back. 

 One variety, with a bright buff abdomen, is called 

 < sweat-bee " by the laborers in the field, because it 

 Jights upon their hands and bare arms when they 

 are sweaty, doubtless in quest of salt. It buildi 



