208 



THE WOODLANDS. 



excavates the pith of bramble or briar sticks, in which 

 its eggs are laid. The prevalent colour of the bee is 

 black or brown, with a metallic tinge. The only 

 flower it has been known to frequent is the Viper's 

 Bugloss. 



The bees of the genus Nomada have been called 

 Wasp-bees, because of their general resemblance to 

 wasps in colour. They may be found hovering about 

 hedgerows or banks. The colours are red or yellow, 

 mixed with black in bands or spots. It is curious 

 that these are really parasitic bees, each species having 

 its peculiar object of attack. 



Amongst the most interest- 

 ing are the Leaf-cutter Bees, 

 of the genus Megachile. They 

 are so called from the habit 

 they have of cutting pieces 

 from the leaves of various 

 shrubs and trees, for the pur- 

 pose of lining their nests. One 

 species burrows in decaying 

 wood, and makes use of the 

 cuttings of rose - leaves and 

 the leaves of the Mercury. 

 Another species bores into 

 sound oak and mountain ash, as well as rotten elm, 

 and uses cuttings of elm - leaves to line the nests. 

 This last is the largest of indigenous species, and 

 is found abundantly round London on the flowers 

 of the thistle. The proceedings of these bees are 

 curious. After preparing a cylindrical tube in wood 

 or the ground; the insect starts in search of material 



THE LEAF-CUTTER BEE. 



