THE STONE HUJIBLE BEE. 373 



scattered on the scutellum and first segment of the abdomen, 

 the four last segments of which are red. 



This is a very common species, and derives its name of ,, 

 lapidarius from tlie fact that it always, if possible, constructs ^ 

 its nest under stones. Those heaps of rough stones which are 

 often left for several years on the sides of country roads are 

 favoured habitations of this Bee, which seems to consider that 

 not only the particular stone-heap which it has chosen, but 

 also a considerable surrounding space, is its own property. In 

 most cases, the nitnclcs of the Bees are so fierce that anyone 

 who is tempted to linger near the heap finds himself obliged 

 to remove at once from the vicinity of these irritable insects. 



.,—,.».. ■ .. IM 1,1..-. "^ •«■_ 



It does not, hoAvever, absolutely restrict itself to such habi- 

 tations, for stone-heaps are not to be found everywhere, and so 

 it has to put up with burrows in the ground, preferring such 

 places as banks and the roots of trees. 



On the upper part of Plate XII. Fig. 3, is represented a very | 

 remarkable insect. At first sight, anyone would say that it was ' 

 a Humble Bee ; and, as the insect may be found in Humble 

 Bees' nests, it may well be ranked among their number. Yet, 

 as we shall presently see, it must not be reckoned among these 

 insects, and, though with them, it is scarcely of them. 



The gen^as Apathus veiy much resembles Bombus in its 

 characteristics. But it has no pollen-baskets in the female, 

 the tibia of the male is convex on the outside, and there is no 

 worker. The absence of the pollen-basket in the female and 

 the convexity of the hind tibiae in the male are the most [ 

 striking points of difference. 



We natm-ally ask ourselves, why the Apathus does not 

 possess the pollen- basket. The reason is, that it does not 

 require it. It does not work, but subsists on the labour of 

 others, and that in a very curious manner. As a general rule, V 

 the presence of parasites in a nest is exceedingly troublesome ^ 

 to the rightful inmates, who resent with all their power the 

 presence of the intruder. This, however, is not the case witli 

 the Apathus. ^ 



Mr. F. Smith, who has paid great attention to this curious 

 subject, and has thoroughly tested and investigated the re- 

 eearches of Kirby, the original discoverer of the distinction 



