THE SOLITARY GROUPS 7 



in the same way as the fossors do, and 

 many of the fossors are found in flowers, appar- 

 ently enjoying them just as much as a truly 

 anthophilous species would, although no doubt 

 often with the ulterior object of capturing 

 some insect for their young ! Still these names 

 are known as representing these two sections 

 all over the world, and therefore it is better to 

 keep to them even if they are not as descriptive 

 as one would like them to be. 



The fossors, or "diggers", have all compara- 

 tively short and bifid tongues, and have, as a 

 rule, little in the way of hairy covering, and 

 what hairs they have are simple and only in 

 very rare instances branched or feather-like. 

 The hind legs of the females are not modified 

 in any way so as to enable them to collect pollen, 

 their legs are usually long and slender, and they 

 are admirably adapted to their life habits of 

 hunting spiders, insects, etc., for their young. 



On the other hand, the Anthophila or " flower- 

 lovers ", are specially adapted for pollen collect- 

 ing. Their tongues vary from a short form 

 like that of some fossors to the long tongues of the 

 humble bees. Their hairs are always plumose 



