128 INSECT ARTIZANS AND THEIR WORK 



sufficient honey is added to enable the bee to knead 

 it into a pasty lump. Prosopis is without any 

 pollen-collecting apparatus on the legs ; and for 

 this reason it was long suspected to be parasitical 

 in habit. But though parasitism has been shown 

 by Mr. R. C. L. Perkins to be indulged in by some 

 of the numerous Hawaian species, the charge does 

 not lie against our native species. It is now shown 

 that they are of rather primitive organization, and 

 have to bring home their pollen and honey mixed — • 

 in their interiors — and regurgitate it for the storing 

 of their cells. The mixture being more liquid in 

 character, the cells are lined to make them water- 

 proof for the holding of it. For the purpose of 

 laying on this material evenly the tongue is specially 

 developed into a somewhat triangular organ, broad 

 in front. 



In the neighbouring genus, Colletes, although the 

 bees make their burrows in the ground, their cells 

 are lined with the same material. They are less 

 primitive than Prosopis, and have the legs well 

 clothed with hairs, but they have a similar-shaped 

 tongue and mix a good deal of honey with their 

 pollen. They bring home a great quantity of 

 pollen, but this is mixed with so much honey 

 that, according to Shuckard, the mass ferments, 

 but is nevertheless consumed by the grub without 

 any evil results, the more liquid portion being 

 eaten first, the more solid later. 



Speaking of the upholstery work, this author 

 says : " But the beauty with which these cells are 



