1892.1 



it finds ready-made, such as the tunnels of Cossus ligniperdi, &c. ; 

 these the female lines with down collected from plants with woolly 

 leaves, such as Lychnis. 

 Anthidium, Fab. 



manicatum, Linn. — Bollin near Manchester, J.R.H. ; Rainhill 

 H.H.H. 



STELIS, Panz. 



The three species found in Great Britain are parasitical upon the 

 genus Osmia ; S. plic^optera and S. ntterimus upon 0. ftilviventris, and 

 5. octomaculata upon O. leucoinelana. They have not yet been recorded 

 in our district, though they have been taken just outside. 



CHELOSTOMA. 



The members of this genus are the true " Carpenter Bees" ; they 

 usually drill holes in wood, though they sometimes choose ready-made 

 cavities, such as straws in a thatched roof; they line their tunnels 

 with clay and sand. 

 Chelostoma, Latr. 



fiorisomne. Linn. — Rainhill, H.H.H. Frequently found, as name 

 implies, asleep in flowers, or hanging therefrom, in state of 

 somnolence, by the mandibles. 



HERIADES, Spin- 



This genus contains but one species, of habits similar to Chelostoma ; 

 it is rare, and has not been recorded in our district. 



OSMIA. 



The Bees of this genus are called "Mason Bees;" from the 

 marvellous way in which they construct their cells of a cement 

 formed of grains of sand, small stones, &c., agglutinated together by 

 a secretion of the insect. 



These cells are constructed in many different situation by the 

 various species with an extraordinary power of adaptability to 

 circumstances. 0. ccenilescens, nifa^ bicolov, and (Uinileiita frequently 

 burrow in sandy banks, but as often, when such are not available, in 

 decayed wood ; O. fulviventris also selects the latter situation. O. 

 leiicomelann forms its nidus in dead bramble stalks, 0. xaiithonielniia 

 constructs its beautiful little pitcher-shaped cells in the roots of grass, 

 and 0. parictina clusters its cocoons under flat stones on mountain 

 sides. Some species, such as 0. nifa, bicolov, and aiinilciitn, m 

 addition to the situations mentioned above, occasionally make use of 

 almost any avaailable cavity which ofTers, frequently constructing 

 their cells inside straws and reeds, or even in deserted snail shells. 

 Several of the species form large colonies. 



