212 THE WOODLANDS. 



around the locality they inhabit, especially the flowers 

 of composite plants, such as the Hawkweeds. 



One other group of bees, and we have done with 

 them. These are the largest of British species, and 

 are called by the generic name of Bombus ; perhaps 

 " Bumble-bees " is a corruption of this name. There 

 are nearly twenty species in this genus, which, except 

 the Honey-bee, are our only social bees. The most 

 interesting part of their history is that which concerns 

 the structure of their nests. This is particularly the 

 case with those called " Carder bees," which felt 

 and plait the filaments of moss to form their home. 

 Such species select a spot close to an abundant supply 

 of material, which they make pellets of. To these 

 nests a long arched passage is formed of the same 

 material, large enough to permit the free passage of 

 the bees to and fro. To construct this the bees form 

 a chain one behind the other from the growing 

 material to the entrance of the passage, all their 

 heads being turned towards the moss and their backs 

 to the nest. The first bites off the raw material, rolls 

 and twists it, passes it to the second, by whom, and 

 by the succeeding ones it undergoes further manipu- 

 lation, and at the termination of the chain and com- 

 mencement of the passage another bee receives it 

 and conveys it along to the interior, and then either 

 applies it herself, or passes it to others to be applied 

 where required. A vaulted covering and sides are 

 thus formed within the cavity, by plaiting or twining 

 together these sprigs of moss, and the inside is further 

 strengthened by being plastered with a coating of 

 false wax, which smells very much like true wax, and 



