170 HUMBLE-BEES. 



shown on plate J, fig. 8. There are many insects 

 that go by this name, because they make a slight 

 tapping sound with their heads, probably to call 

 their mates ; and which sound has been thought to 

 prognosticate death rather than marriage. 



The curious Tortoise-beetle is depicted on plate 

 C, fig. 6. Its chief peculiarity is in its larval state, 

 when it carries a kind of parasol, formed from the 

 remains of the leaves on which it has been feeding. 



Last and least of the beetles comes one as de- 

 structive as it is small, the Turnip-hopper. This 

 little animal, no larger than a small pin's head, does 

 great damage to the turnip crops, and is therefore 

 hated by farmers. It is shown, much magnified, on 

 plate J, fig. 13. 



From the beetles we proceed to the Bee tribe ; and 

 first take the common Humble-bee, several of which 

 are shown on plate H, fig. 10, representing the 

 " Eed-hipped Humble-bee," which mostly makes its 

 nest among stone-heaps. Fig. 11 is the common 

 Humble-bee, that burrows in the ground, and there 

 builds its thimble-like cells. These cells are very 

 irregular in shape, and are affixed to each other 

 without any definite order. Of these two insects, 

 the latter is harmless enough ; but the former be- 

 comes very fierce if its nest is approached too 

 closely. 



A magnified view of some hairs of the Humble-bee 

 is given on plate K, fig. 11. 



