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HUMBLE-BEES. 
rated,) the latter clothed with reddish yellow or 
golden coloured hairs ; abdomen triangular, the hir- 
suties fulvous; wings slightly tinged with brown, 
the nervures black ; legs likewise black, the thighs 
densely bearded with yellow hairs. The abdomen of 
the male is narrower than that of the female, and 
has some dark coloured down at the extremity. 
Varies in size, and in having the hirsuties of the 
thorax dark brown, or so pale, as to approach cine- 
reous ; the latter hue sometimes occasioned bv age. 
Of frequent occurrence in all the temperate regions 
of Europe. It is known in Scotland as the Foggie 
or Moss-bee. Its nest is quite upon the surface, 
and, consisting merely of a little dome of moss, it 
falls an easy prey to every kind of marauder. The 
following is Reaumur’s account, as abridged by Kirby, 
of its plan of operations ; but he seems either to 
overlook the fact, that at the usual period of forming 
the nest, the female is the sole architect and practical 
builder, or his description applies to the formation of 
the nest at a more advanced period of the season, 
after the original one may have been by some means 
destroyed, and when the population has multiplied. 
After stating that they cover their dwelling until a 
thick vault or coping of moss, he continues: “ The 
mode in which they transport the moss they use is 
singular. When they have discovered a parcel of it 
conveniently situated, they place themselves upon it 
with their anus towards the spot to which they mean 
to convey it. They then take a small portion, and 
with their maxillas and forelegs, as it were card and 
