ON THE HABITS OF SOME SPECIES OF BiiES. 4U7 



described since the publication of that work, I have extracted 

 a few notes from my Memorandum Book relating to that 

 insect, together with some other species of bees, which, I hope, 

 may be acceptable to the Entomological Magazine. 



On the 12th of June last, whilst taking a ramble by the 

 side of the river Mersey, I observed a species of Megachile in 

 considerable abundance ; thinking it might differ from the 

 London species, with which my cabinet is pretty well stocked, 

 I caught a few of them, and to my delight found them to be 

 the same, I believe, as a species which had been shown to me 

 whilst Curator to the Entomological Society, and by the 

 entomologists who possessed it, thought to be a new species, 

 of which the female as yet was not known. I therefore hunted 

 with great diligence in the hopes of finding the female, but at 

 that time without success. 



The males were flying about, and occasionally settling on the 

 banks to bask in the sun, or sipping the honey from a little 

 yellow flower — the Lotus corniculatus I believe — which was 

 common in the neighbourhood. I never saw them settle on 

 any other flower, though many were in bloom. a In these same 

 banks I observed many little holes. My digger was of course 

 soon at work, and with success ; for two or three nests, con- 

 structed in the same manner as those of Megachile Willuyh- 

 biella, sometimes with rose leaves, but occasionally with the 

 leaves of other plants, made their appearance. These nests I 

 took home, and shortly after reared from them specimens of 

 Megachile circumcincta. This made me suspect that the bee 

 which I had been catching in the neighbourhood was the male 

 of that insect, — a suspicion which was fully confirmed shortly 

 afterwards upon going to the same place again. The females 

 of M. circumcincta were then in abundance, and engaged in 

 making their nests ; the males were flying about in the neigh- 

 bourhood of these nests, and many times gave me ample proofs 

 of their relationship. Several of the pairs I caught. The 

 male embraces the female whilst on the wing, but as they 

 then cannot fly they come speedily to the ground. 



The female, M. circumcincta, is well known. The insect 

 discovered to be the male very much resembles that of M. 



a I mention this fact, because I think it important to ascertain, if possible, 

 what flowers particular species of bees frequent, for many confine themselves, in 

 a great measure, to one kind. 



NO. V. VOL. III. 3 S 



