THE HOME OF THE BEES. 
BY A. S. PACKARD, JR., M. D. 
(Concluded from page 378.) 
„Wue the Andrena and Halictus bees, whose habits 
we now describe, are closely allied in form to the Hive- 
. bee, socially they are the “mud-sills” of bee society, 
ranking among the lowest forms of the family of bees, 
or Apide. ‘Their burrowing habits ally them with the 
ants, from whose nests their own burrows can scarcely be 
distinguished. Their economy does not seem to demand 
the exercise of so much of a true reasoning power and 
pliable instinct as characterizes those bees, such as the 
Honey and Humble-bee, which possess a high architectu- 
ral skill. Moreover they are not social; ‘they have no 
part in rearing and caring for their young, a fact that 
lends so much interest to the history of the Hive and 
Humble-bee. In this respect they are far below the 
wasps, or Vespide, a family belonging next below in the 
system of Nature. 
A glance at Mr. Emerton’s admirable drawing (Fig. 1) 
of a j eee of Andrena vicina Smith, reveals the econ- 
omy of one of our most common forms. Quite early in 
spring, when the sun and vernal breezes have dried up 
the soil, and the fields exchange their rusty hues for the 
rich green verdure of May, our Andrena, tired of its idle 
life among the blossoms of the willow, the wild cherry, 
and garden flowers, suddenly becomes remarkably indus- 
trious, and wields its spade-like jaws and busy feet with 
a strange and unwonted energy. Choosing some sunny, 
warm, grassy bank (these nests were observed in the 
“great pasture” of Salem), not always with a southern ex- 
posure ee the female sinks her oer well through 
(596) 
