CHAPTER XV 



THE HALICTI 



Do you know the Halicti ? Perhaps not. There is no 

 great harm done : it is quite possible to enjoy the few 

 pleasures of life without knowing the Halicti. Neverthe- 

 less, when questioned with persistence, those humble 

 creatures with no history can tell us some very singular 

 things ; and their acquaintance is not to be disdained 

 if we desire to enlarge our ideas a little upon the be- 

 wildering rabble of this world. Since we have nothing 

 better to do, let us look into these Halicti. They are 

 worth the trouble. 



How shall we recognize them ? They are manufac- 

 turers of honey, generally slimmer and slenderer than the 

 Bee of our hives. They constitute a numerous group 

 that varies greatly in size and colouring. Some there 

 are that exceed the dimensions of the Common Wasp ; 

 others might be compared with the Domestic Fly, or are 

 even smaller. In the midst of this variety, which forms 

 the despair of the novice, one characteristic remains 

 invariable. Every Halictus carries the plainly -legible 

 certificate of her guild. 



Look at the last ring, at the tip of the belly, on the 

 dorsal surface. If your capture be an Halictus, there will 

 be here a smooth and shiny line, a narrow groove along 

 which the sting slides up and down when the insect is 



