BEES OF GREAT BRITAIN. 239 



Var. /3. The pubescence on the scvitcllum blacky the base of the 

 abdomen having some yellow pubescence laterally. 



Var. y. The pubescence on the scutellum and at the base of the 

 abdomen enth^ely black. 



The insect which represents the Bomhus nemorum in the 

 Banksian Cabinet is the A. vestalis, but it has been thought 

 better to retain Kirby's name, since no female of this species 

 has occurred with the character *^ thorace fascia interrupta flava ;" 

 nor is it the case with the specimen in the Banksian Collection, 

 which is probably not the typical one. 



This species is found in all parts of the United Kingdom, 

 and is very abundant in the neighbourhood of London. Both 

 sexes of this parasite were found in the nest of B, terrestris at 

 Southend, in the autumn of 1854. 



Genus 18. APIS. 



Apis, pt., Linn. 



Communities consisting of three kinds of individuals, — males, 

 females, and workers. 



Males,— Eye^ very large, occupying one-fifth of the head, 

 meeting on the vertex ; the posterior tibiae slender at the base, 

 gradually widening to the apex. 



Females and Workers.— Eyes lateral, elongate, not meeting 

 on the vertex. Wings having one marginal and three submar- 

 ginal cells; the labial palpi four-jointed, the maxillary palpi 

 consisting of a single joint. Eyes pubescent ; posterior tibi^ not 

 having any spine at the apex ; the basal joint of the posterior 

 tarsi of the workers concave, transversely ridged, each rido-e 

 having a thick-set fringe of stiff hairs, producing the appearance 

 of transverse grooves. The female and the male have the tarsi 

 simple. 



Volumes have been written on the economy of the Honey 

 Bees ; Swammerdam, Reaumur, Huber, and others have made 

 us acquainted with the marvels of the hive. Not having had an 

 opportunity of making any personal observations on the Hive- 

 bee, I can add nothing to its history. 



We can scarcely estimate the value the products of the 

 hive must have been to man in ancient times; but when we 

 remember that honey must have formed the staple commodity 



-¥ 



