196 THE MARVEL OF INSECT LIFE. 



earth-borer, it forms its floors of concentric rings of 

 clay instead of wood chips. It is a native of South 

 Africa. 



Before passing to the Social Bees, I must bestow a few 

 lines upon one very common and very interesting British 

 insect. This is scientifically named Anthophora retusa, 

 and it is generally accepted as the British type of the 

 Mason Bees. It makes a sort of composite nest, 

 placing its cells in the crevices of rocks, holes in the 

 walls, and similar localities, and covering them with 

 a patch of mud, which looks very much as if it had been 

 flung against the wall by accident, and left to dry there. 

 It serves, however, as a protecting cover for the cells, 

 which are made of little pellets of earth fastened together 

 like the wood chips of the Xylocopa. The cells are 

 rough on the exterior, but smooth and polished on the 

 interior. It is a pretty bee, and can be known by the 

 feathered tips of the middle legs. 



