2:2 
HUMBLE-BEES. 
ing the comb. They were thus relieved from their 
toil ; but it was only for a short period ; for the 
wax getting soon dry, the pillars gave way ; and the 
harassed insects were again subjected to the weary 
task of propping up the tottering edifice by their 
bodily' exertions, when M. Huber took pity on them, 
and glued the comb firmly to the table. 
LAPIDARY OR RED-TAILED BEE. 
(BOMBUS LAP1DARIVS.) 
Plate XVI. Figs. 1, 2. 
Apis lapidaria, Linn, — Donum, iii. 97, PI. 108, fig. 1, and xi. 
69,. PI. 385, fig. 1. — Kirby's Monog. Apum , ii. 364. 
Orange-tailed Bee, Bingley, iii. 290 Ap. audens, Harris 
Expos. 130, PL 38, fig. 2; PL 40, fig. 12; Pl. 40, fig. 
15._Ap. arbustorum, Fab A. strenuus, Harris' Expos. 
xxxviii. fig. 5. 
This handsome species receives its specific name 
from its habit of forming its nest among loose heaps 
of stones ; occasionally, however, it burrows in the 
earth like the species last described. The female 
(fig. 2.) is of considerable size, having nearly the 
whole body of a deep vclvetty black clothed with 
long soft hairs : mouth fringed with red hairs ; thorax 
entirely' black ; abdomen with the three last segments 
red. The wings are shorter than the body, almost 
clear and transparent, the apex a little obscured, and 
the nervures black; legs deep black, the hairs of 
the tarsi reddish. The male (fig. 1.) is of smaller 
dimensions, having the thorax lemon-yellow behind, 
black on the middle, and pale yellow in front ; the 
forehead with a patch of lemon-yellow ; legs with 
