748 



ENTOMOLOGY. 



their diameter is exactly that of the cylinder, to which, 

 indeed, they give its form, and their bend to the pieces 

 which compose it. If by any accident their labour is 

 interrupted, or their edifice deranged, it is astonishing 

 with what persevering patience they set themselves to 

 put all things again in order. Their mode of cutting 

 the leaf, too, requires particular notice. Nothing can 

 be more expeditious ; they are not longer about it than 

 we should be with scissars. When the insect has se- 

 lected a bush furnishing the leaves required, she keeps 

 hovering over and Hying round it, until she has disco- 

 vered the leaf best adapted for her purpose. When she 

 has chosen the leaf, she alights on it, sometimes on the 

 upper surface, sometimes underneath it, or at other 

 times on its edge, so that the margin passes between 

 her legs. As soon as she has made a beginning, (which 

 she usually does near the main nerve,) she continues 

 cutting with her mandibles, until the work be complet- 

 ed. As she proceeds, she keeps the margin of the de- 

 tached part between her legs, those on one side being 

 above, and the other below it, so that the section keeps 

 yielding to her, and does not interrupt her progress. 

 She makes her incision in a curve line, approaching the 

 rachis at first ; but when she has reached a certain 

 point, she keeps receding from it towards the margin, 

 still cutting in a curve. When she has nearly detached 

 the portion she has been employed upon from the leaf, 

 she balances herself, lest its weight should carry her to 

 the ground ; and the moment of its parting from the 

 parent stock, she flies oft', the detached portion remain- 

 ing bent between her legs, and being perpendicular to 

 her body. She pursues the same mode, whatever the 

 form or size of the piece necessary for her purpose. The 

 larvae when arrived at full size, spin a coccoon thick and 

 solid of silk, which they attach to the sides of the cell." 



Mr Kirby very justly supposes Reaumur to be mista- 

 ken with respect to the mode of forming their cylindric 

 nests. He considers that the nest takes its form, and 

 the leaves composing it their bend, from the passage, 

 and that the external coat must be first deposited, as the 

 insect could not get between the side of the cylinder and 

 of the nest. 



Sfi. 1. Centuncularis. 



Afiis centuncularis. Linnaeus, Fourcroy, Kirby. 



Megachile centuncularis. Latreille. 



Inhabits Europe. Builds its cells with the leaves of 

 roses, and of the Mercurialis annua. 



Genus DCLIX. Celioxys. Latreille. 



Apis. Linn. Villers, Kirby. (*• c. l.«.) 



Anthophora. Fabricius, Illiger, Klug. 



Megachile. Walckenaer. 



Tkachusa. Jurine. 



Akthidium. Panzer. 



Hkriabes. Spinola. 



Labial palpi with their second joint not longer than 

 the first. Maxillary palpi two-jointed, the first double 

 the length of the second. Mandibles narrow and strong 

 in both sexes. Scutellum spiny. Abdomen conic or 

 triangular, very little or not at all downy. Anus of the 

 males spiny. 



Sfi. 1. Conic a. 



jifiis conica. Kirby. 



Calioxya conica. Latreille. 



Male. 



Afiia quadridentata. Linn. 



Anthofihora quadridentata. Fabr. 



Female. 



Apia conica. Linn. 



Inhabits Europe, 



Subdivision 3. 



Labium remarkably longer than broad, inclining per. 

 pcndicularly to the mandibles, triangulate, truncate. 

 Mandibles narrow, pointed, unidentate on their internal 

 edge. Body simply pubescent. Superior wings with 

 two submarginal cells complete. 



Genus DCLX. Ammobates. Latreille. 



Maxillary palpi six-jointed. Superior wings with two 

 submarginal cells. 



Sfi. 1. Rtifiventris. 



Ammobates rufiventris. Latreille. 



Inhabits Portugal. 



Genus DCLXI. Phileremus. Latreille. 



Epeolus. Fabricius. 

 . Maxillary palpi two-jointed. Superior wings with 

 two submarginal cells. 



Sfi, 1. Punclatus. 



Jifieolus Jiunctatus. Fabricius. 



Phileremus Kirbyanus. Latreille. 



Obs. Latreille has a divison of this genus, in which 

 the superior wings have but one submarginal cell, which 

 character is certainly sufficient to constitute a distinct 

 genus. 



Subdivision 4. 



Labrum a little broader than long, subscmicircular or 

 scmioval. Mandibles slender, pointed, unidentate on 

 their internal edge. Abdomen not pollenigerous. 



* Lip with the lateral divisions shorter than the palpi„ 

 Body simply pubescent. 



Genus DCLXII. Nomada. Scop. Fabr. Illiger 

 Klug. Spinola, Jurine, Panzer. 



Apis. Linn. Villers, Kirby, (**.) 



Superior wings with three submarginal cells complete. 

 Maxillary palpi six-jointed. 



The history, economy, and mode of nidification of the 

 insects of this genus (all of whom are remarkable for 

 the gaiety of their colours) as yet remain a secret. Dr 

 Leach has strong reasons for suspecting them to be par- 

 asitical, and this seems the more probable from their 

 having no instruments for carrying pollen. Their flight 

 is silent, unattended by any hum ; they frequent dry 

 banks. Their eyes, whilst living, exhibit through the 

 external reticulated covering, a surface of hexagons, 

 which keeps shifting with the light. 



Sfi. 1. Ruficornis. 



Afiis ruficornis. Linn. Kirby. 



JVomada ruficornis. Fabr. Latr. 



Inhabits Europe. 



Genus DCLXIII. Epeolus. Latreillo, Fabricius 1 , 

 Illiger, Jurine, Panzer, Spinola, Klug. 



Apis. Linn. Kirby, (»» b.) 



Superior wings with three complete submarcinal cells. 

 Maxillary palpi one-jointed. 



Sfi. 1. Variegatus. 



JEfieolua variegatus. Fabricius, Panzer, Latreille. 



Afiis variegata. Linne. 



Inhabits Europe, but is very local, (if not rare.) in 

 Britain. 



Genus DCLXIV. Pasites. Jurine, Spinola. 



Biastes. Panzer. 



Nomada. Fabricius. 



Anthophora. Illiger. 



Superior wings with two complete submarginal cejls. 

 Maxillary palpi four-jointed. 



Sfi. 1. Schottn. 



BUmcs achottii. Panzer. 



