PEPACTON 



much this little native bee resembles her cousin of 

 the social hive. There appear to be several varie- 

 ties, but the one I have in mind is just the size of 

 the honey-bee, and of the same general form and 

 color, and its manner 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 perceive 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 labor- 

 ers in the field, because it alights upon their hands 

 and bare arms when they are sweaty, doubtless 

 in quest of salt. It builds its nest in little cavities 

 in rails and posts. But the one with the bronze or 

 copper bottom builds under a stone. I discov- 

 ered its nest one day in this wise : I was lying on 

 the ground in a field, watching a line of honey-beet 

 to the woods, when my attention was arrested by 

 one of these native bees flying about me in a curi- 

 ous, inquiring way. When it returned the third 

 time, I said, "That bee wants something of me," 

 which proved to be the case, for I was lying upon 

 the entrance to its nest. On my getting up, it 

 alighted and crawled quickly home. I turned over 

 the stone, which was less than a foot across, when 

 the nest was partially exposed. It consisted of four 

 136 



