THE SOCIAL BEES. 169 



closely like them to admit of generic subdivision. Chry- 

 santheda, we have not the least doubt, is parasitical upon 

 the metallic Euglossce. These insects belong exclusively 

 to the western hemisphere, and it has been stated that 

 such is the case also with Mellipona and Trigona ; but 

 we are acquainted with species of the latter, which were 

 brought from Java by Dr. Horsfield, and from Sumatra 

 by sir Stamford Raffles, and St. Fargeau has also de- 

 scribed one from Timor. From the vicinity of the 

 latter island to New Holland, it is, therefore, not impro- 

 bable that this genus may be discovered there; for we 

 have yet seen no genuine bee from that country, ex- 

 cepting such as have been imported by colonists, nor do 

 we know any insect that does there represent it. These 

 insects, Mellipona and Trigona, are likewise frequently 

 found in gum anime and copal. The occurrence of 

 bees without stings is an anomaly that we are scarcely 

 prepared to expect, especially where there are such rich 

 stores to defend as these insects form ; and yet this is 

 reputed to be the case with the indigenous social and 

 honey-making bees of America. Those of the genus 

 Apis which are found there were originally introduced 

 by colonists; but they have now permanently naturalised 

 themselves, and occur at large in the woods. Much 

 obscurity still hangs over the natural history of Mel- 

 lipona and Trigona, and we are yet insufficiently ac- 

 quainted with their sexes. The marquis Spinola has 

 recently helped to clear away some of the difficulties 

 involving these insects, and has shown that we are 

 scarcely to expect here those great sexual discre- 

 pancies that we meet with in the genuine Apis. These 

 insects are usually very small ; and all that we know of 

 their natural history is, that their nests consist of large 

 assemblies of individuals, which form their waxen hives 

 within hollow trees or the cavities of rocks. They 

 make large quantities of wax, and are not, apparently, 

 so economical in its use as Apis; for, from the figure 

 given of a portion of one of their nests by Huber, in the 

 Transactions of the Society of Natural History of Ge~ 



