1929] 
Biology of Mining Bees 
173 
Following these first busy days, the population of Entech- 
nia taurea seemed to disperse, for on several occasions 
during the remainder of July, only a few at a time were 
seen about the place. They, of course, were females, busily 
coming and going about the burrows they were rapidly 
digging and the clay chimneys which they were building 
Fig. 11. A collection of turrets of Anthophora abrupta to show details of 
construction. 
over them. A few males were there too. The bees were 
divided into two groups, one at either end of the bank, 
while the center which bore an abundance of old burrows 
of Anthophora , had no bees. Enormous numbers of para- 
sites lurked about this portion, which would indicate that 
only those at the extreme ends had escaped their ravages. 
At the north end, some half dozen males were playfully 
buzzing about, keeping strictly to the confines of their own 
