WASPS AND BEES. 51 



this cover, and when completed is closed in with a cover in the 

 same way, a passage through the comb being left for access to the 

 first row. A third row of cells is then built in the same way 

 (fig. 55 c). The Brazilian wasps of the genera PolyUa, Chartergus, Wall- 

 eta, build in this way, and numerous nests are exhibited. The case 15, 

 covering of the nest of Chartergus chartarius is nearly white and T 50 

 smooth, and in this and in its texture exactly resembles card, whence 

 it has been called "the Card-making Wasp." One very large 

 example (575, fig. 56), from the river Amazon, presented by Mr. 

 G-. Brocklehurst, exhibited contains twenty-two rows or storeys. 



In Wall-case 16 are various nests of bees. Species of the genus Wall- 

 Osmia will make a nest in any place which appears to them suitable, case 16 ' 

 garden locks are sometimes chosen. A pipe with cells of Osmia rufa 

 is exhibited (647), and another still more curious example is a book 

 with a series of cells (631). This book was in a book-case pressed 

 against the back ; this left just room for the bee to get behind it. 

 It is from Hawkhurst, Kent, and was presented by Miss Evelyn 

 Hardcastle. Another nest built between two flowerpot saucers is 

 exhibited in Table-case 50. 



Three disused birds'-nests which have been used by humble-bees 

 to build nests in are exhibited (639, 643). One of these nests 

 from East Clandon, Surrey (641), has been attacked by a moth 

 (Aphomia), the caterpillars of which having fed on the wax of 

 which the bees' cells are made, have spun their cocoons on the top. 



At the top of this case will be seen a single comb of great size 

 formed by an Indian honey-bee, Apis dorsata (609). This honey- 

 bee, unlike the common honey-bee, Apis melifica, does not build in 

 hollow trees, etc., but suspends the combs without covering from 

 the branches of trees. An excellent photograph of a group of combs 

 of this species is shown in Table-case 49, which is devoted to the Table- 

 explanation of the habits of honey-bees. Greatly enlarged drawings case * 9 - 

 are exhibited to show the difference in the structure of the queen, 

 drone and worker. The worker has the femur clothed with long 

 barbed hairs (fig. 58 a) ; the tibia is concave on the outer side, the 

 edges are furnished with long-curved hairs, the whole making a sort 

 of basket in which pollen is collected (b). The apex of the tibia is 

 furnished with a series of teeth like a comb, with which the wax is 

 removed from the abdomen (c). The underside of the first joint of 

 the tarsus has rows of short stiff hairs, the whole forming a brush 

 with which to collect the pollen and put it into the basket on the 

 tibia (d). Other points of interest in connection with this bee are 



E 2 



