FOREIGN BEES. 291 



habitations in the cavities of the trunks. The hees of 

 Guadaioupe, however, are sometimes found making 

 their dwellings in clefts of the rocks, as well as in 

 the hollows of trees. Their honey is deposited in 

 clusters of cells, or rather cups, which are of the size 

 and shape of pigeon-eggs; and the wax of which 

 they are formed, is of a deep violet colour, and of so 

 soft a consistence, as materially to diminish its utility. 

 The insect itself is distinguished by its diminutive 

 size, its jet-black colour, and its want of a sting. 



The bees of Guiana are generally small, and of a 

 deep black colour like those of Guadaloupe, but 

 armed with a powerful sting. Labat,* however, 

 speaks of a species which have no sting, or one so 

 feeble, that it cannot pierce the skin ; and states, 

 that the natives handle them without dread, and 

 without any other inconvenience than a slight tickling. 

 There is a species noticed by Stedman, which builds 

 its nest in the roofs of houses, and is said to attack 

 strangers with the greatest fury, while it does not at 

 all molest the regular occupiers of the habitation 

 where it has established its residence. Another 

 species takes up its abode in the trunks of decayed 

 trees ; and if the hollow space is too large for their 

 purpose, they contract it by raising above a kind of 

 waxen dome. Their honey is of the colour of amber, 

 and of an agreeable flavour, but becomes quickly 

 acid. The wax is like that of Guadaloupe, of a 

 dark violet colour, never hardens, and cannot be 



* Voyage du Chevalier des Marchais a Cayenne, vol. iii. 253. 



