MARCH. 53 



of the numerous instances of design which call for our ad- 

 miration when studying the works of God. The Solitary 

 Bees form four sub-families, divided into many genera, to 

 enter into a description of which, would be foreign to the 

 design of this sketch ; it is sufficient to name some of those 

 whose designations are more familiar ; such as the Uphol- 

 sterer and Mason Bees, the Leaf-cutter and Cuckoo Bees, 

 all belonging to the group which, from their habits, are 

 called solitary. The Social Bees consist of the genus Bom- 

 bus, Humble-bee, and Apis, Hive-bee, with some exotic 

 genera. The first of these make their nests in various 

 situations ; some digging to a considerable distance under- 

 ground, as Bombus terrestris ; others selecting a crevice in 

 a heap of stones, as Bombus lapidarius ; whilst the Bombus 

 muscorum places its nest on the surface of the ground, 

 covering it with moss or dried leaves. These nests are con- 

 structed by one solitary female, who forms in them a num- 

 ber of cells, in which she deposits her eggs. It is a curious 

 fact that the eggs first hatched are all neuters, or working 

 Bees, which are thus ready to assist their parent in the 

 cares of the infant state : the eggs hatched at a later period 

 are male and female. When the cocoons, in which the 

 grubs undergo their transformation, are empty, they are not 



