MOSS OB CAEDEB BEE. 
253 
comb it; when the pieces are sufficiently disen- 
tangled, they are placed under the body by the first 
pair of legs ; the intermediate pair receives them 
and delivers them to the last, which pushes them as 
far as possible beyond the anus. When by this pro- 
cess the insect has formed behind it a small mass of 
moss well carded, then either the same or another 
who takes her turn in the business, pushes it nearer 
to the nest. Thus small heaps of moss are conveyed to 
its foot ; and in a similar manner they are elevated 
to its summit, or where they may be most wanted. 
A file of four or five insects is occupied at the same 
time in this employment.* 
DONOVAN'S HUMBLE-BEE. 
(BOAfBCS DONOVANELLUS.) 
Plate XVII. Fig. 1. 
Apis Donovanella, Kirby's Monog. Ap. ii. 357, PI. 18, fig. 6. 
The length of this insect very little exceeds seven 
lines ; the prevailing colour black, all the parts very 
hirsute ; head and antenna: black ; the mouth with 
reddish hairs ; thorax black, with a dense patch of 
lemon-yellow hairs in front in the female, but ob- 
scure in the male ; abdomen between triangular and 
globose, the base with a broad light-vellow band, 
then a black one, the three last segments red ; legs 
black ; wings tinged with dusky-brown. 
This species is named in honour of the late Mr. 
Donovan, whose extensive works, containing accur- 
ate delineations both of British and foreign insects, 
as well as of other animals, have tended greatly to 
* Reaumur’s Mem. tom. vi. 
