254 HUMBLE-BEES. 



rated,) the latter clothed with reddish yellow or 

 golden coloured hairs ; abdomen triangular, the hir- 

 suties fulvous; wings slightly tinged with brown, 

 the nervures hlack ; legs likewise black, the thighs 

 densely bearded with yellow .hairs. The abdomen of 

 the male is narrower than that of the female, and 

 has some dark coloured down at the extremity. 

 Varies in size, and in having the hirsuties of the 

 thorax dark brown, or so pale, as to approach cine- 

 reous ; the latter hue sometimes occasioned by age. 

 Of frequent occurrence in all the temperate regions 

 of Europe. It is known in Scotland as the Foggie 

 or Moss-bee. Its nest is quite upon the surface, 

 and, consisting merely of a little dome of moss, it 

 falls an easy prey to every kind of marauder. The 

 following is Reaumur's account, as abridged by Kirby, 

 of its plan of operations ; but he seems either to 

 overlook the fact, that at the usual period of forming 

 the nest, the female is the sole architect and practical 

 builder, or his description applies to the formation of 

 the nest at a more advanced period of the season, 

 after the original one may have been by some means 

 destroyed, and when the population has multiplied. 

 After stating that they cover their dwelling with a 

 thick vault or coping of moss, he continues : " The 

 mode in which they transport the moss they use Is 

 singular. When they have discovered a parcel of it 

 conveniently situated, they place themselves upon it 

 with their anus towards the spot to which they mean 

 to convey it. They then take a small portion, and 

 with their maxillae and forelegs, as it were card and 



