194 



THE MARVEL OF INSECT LIFE. 



a large black Humble Bee, but it can easily be distinguished 

 from these insects, not only by the shining abdomen, 

 which is but sparely covered with hairs, but by the deep 

 violet colour of the wings. Popularly it is called the 

 Carpenter Bee; but there are so many bees which 



Fig, 4. XYLOCOPA, on CARPENTER BEE. (Half actual size.) 



deserve this term that neither of them can arrogate it to 

 itself. 



This bee is especially remarkable for the solidity of its 

 work. Usually the cells or partition walls of the tun- 

 nelling bees are exceedingly fragile, no matter what may 

 be the material of which they are made. 



Unlike the generality of burrowing insects, which carry 



