Mining-Bees. 53 



the end, so as to have a double lining where the honey is to 

 come, and then she puts a fresh supply in the new cell. 

 This cell is then closed, and the bee proceeds with her work 

 until she has made from six to eight cells in a single burrow. 

 This insect suffers terribly from the depredations of the ear- 

 wig, which completely empties the burrow both of food and 

 of inhabitants. The colour of the insect is black, with a 

 little reddish down on the upper part of the thorax, and some 

 white on the legs. The abdomen is shining black, but each 

 segment has a very narrow band of reddish down on its edge. 



In 1850, Mr. F. Smith, to whose works such constant 

 reference has been made, undertook the study of a genus of 

 mining-bees belonging to this family. The species which he 

 chiefly watched is Halictus morio, and his observations are 

 peculiarly valuable, as showing the wonderful manner in 

 which the economy of the race is managed. It is known 

 that in these and many other insects, the pregnant females 

 pass the winter in a state of hibernation, and begin to work 

 in the following spring, and that therefore some arrangement 

 must be needful that a supply of such queens should be kept 

 up. 



Mr. Smith found the case to stand thus. Early in April, 

 the females appeared abundantly, and could be seen until 

 June, but not a single male was to be found. During June 

 and July, almost all the Halidi had disappeared, the reason 

 being, that the queens had made their burrows, laid their 

 eggs, stocked their cells, and then died, the duties of their 

 life having been fulfilled. In the middle of August, the 

 males began to appear, and in September the females of the 

 first brood came out. They immediately set to work at their 

 burrows, and laid their eggs. The ground, thoroughly 

 warmed by the summer sun, soon hastened the young through 

 their changes, and in an incredibly short time the insects of 

 the second brood made their appearance. The females of 

 this brood meet their mates, and then hide themselves until the 

 following spring. 



As in the case of Andrenae, several tunnels are often made 

 with one common entrance. The insect is very small, 



