198 Eucera. INSECTS. Humble Bee. 
tlieir burrows in decaying posts and rails; but when 
they meet with ready-formed tubes adapted to their 
purpose, they avail themselves of the convenience. 
Mr. Marsham describes the Pirnpla manifestator as 
introducing its eggs into the nests of this bee ; but the 
hee is so small, and the parasite so large, that it can 
hardly be on the Chelostoma that the Ichneumon preys, 
hut more probably on some beetles (such as the Clytus 
arietis) which deposit their eggs in the same posts. 
Fcenus assectator enters the burrows and searches till 
it finds the nest. Two species of Chrysis are also 
found to be parasitic on this bee. 
Ceratina. — The labial palpi in the genus Ceraiina 
have four joints. Spinola first ascertained the habits 
of the species. These bees hollow out the pith of 
brambles and briars, and furnish their larvae with a 
deposit of semifluid honey. Mr. Smith, who has con- 
firmed the observations of Spinola, says — “ Some years 
ago I observed a small bee most industriously employed 
in excavating a dead bramble stick. My attention was 
directed to the circumstances from observing some of 
the falling pieces of pith on the ground immediately 
beneath. Occasionally fresh quantities of dust were 
pushed out. At length the little creature came out 
of the stick as if to rest, and after sunning itself a 
few minutes, it re-entered, and again commenced its 
labours.” Later in the day he stopped up the hole, 
cut off the branch, and found a male and female Cera- 
tina. The Count St. Fargeau regarded these bees as 
parasitic, from their wanting pollenigerous appendages ; 
but there are, as has been shown before, other genera 
similarly destitute, and yet not parasites. The Cera- 
tina cai-ulea, is very local. It frequents the flowers of 
the Ecliium vulgare. 
Eucera. — The genus Eucera is so named from the 
antennae in the males being as long as the body. There 
is but one species found in this country— the Eucera 
longicornis, or Long-horned bee. Eucera prefers a 
clayey soil for its burrows. At the end of the burrow 
the female forms an oval chamber or cell. The sides 
of this are made perfectly smooth, and capable of resist- 
ing the moisture of the mixture of pollen and honey 
stored up for its young brood. Each cell has one larva. 
This larva does not spin a cocoon, but passes the winter 
as a larva ; about the end of April it changes to the 
pupa state, shortly after attaining which, it becomes a 
perfect bee. “The male, on emerging from its cell, passes 
its long antennae through the notch at the base of the 
first joint of the anterior tarsus, drawing the antennae 
through, and thus readily divests those organs of the 
thin pellicle in which they are enveloped. Here we 
see another beautiful exemplification of the truth, that 
nothing is made in vain. Tlie long antennae of the 
males of this genus are doubtless adapted to some 
peculiar phase in their economy, and the remarkable 
hexagonal reticulation of the joints also answers some 
purpose connected with a peculiar sense, the exact 
function of which we are unable to appreciate.” 
Sarapoda. — The genus Sarapoda is distinguished 
from all the other genera of British bees by the setiform 
labial palpi, the joints of which are continued in a 
straight line. The only British species, the Sara- 
poda himaculata, is abundant in Hampshire and San- 
down Bay in the Isle of Wight, It is evidently a 
prime favourite of the able monographer of the British 
bees, who thus writes of it : — “ Of all the busy 
bees that revel in the beauty of a summer’s day, Sara- 
poda himaculata must ever be an especial favourite. 
It is only to be found when it is sunniest, brightest, and 
hottest — when summer days are summer days indeed. 
Who has not heard its merry hum? Who has not 
seen it when for a moment it settles on a flower, or 
rests on some sunny bank, panting with delight? 
Their eyes splendid as opals : could their brilliancy be 
preserved, this bee would rival and challenge admira - 
tion with the most brilliant of its tribe. It is a local 
species, but abounds in many localities; it flies with 
incredible swiftness, darting from flower to flower.” 
Anthophora. — There are four British species of 
the very fine genus Anthophora^ which is one of great 
extent, and distributed over the whole world. One 
of the British species {Anthophora furcata) is a wood- 
burrower, according to Kirby. It occurs abundantly 
near London in July and August, frequenting the flowers 
of the red dead-nettle. The other indigenous species 
burrow in the ground or in walls, and such like places. 
The Anthophora acervorum is found in all parts of the 
United Kingdom. It literally swarms in some places. 
“ There is a colony of this bee, in the chalk-pits at 
Northfleet, of such amazing extent that, in the middle 
of April, a dark flickering shadow is cast on the ground 
from the countless numbers assembled.” There is 
little doubt that this is the very bee alluded to by the 
Rev. Gilbert White — in his Observations on Insects 
usually printed with the “Natural History of Sel- 
borne” — in the following passage: — “There is a 
remarkable hill on the Downs, near Lewes in Sussex, 
known by the name of Mount Carburn, which over- 
looks that town, and affords a most engaging prospect 
of all the country round, besides several views of the 
sea. On the very summit of this exalted promontory, 
and amidst the trenches of its Danish camp, there 
haunts a species of wild bee, making its nest in the 
chalky soil. When people approach the place these 
insects begin to be alarmed, and, with a sharp and 
hostile sound, dash and strike round the heads and faces 
of intruders. I have often been interrupted myself 
while contemplating the grandeur of the scenery around 
me, and have thought myself in danger of being stung.” 
In the south of the Isle of Wight, the cliffs arc often 
completely riddled with their burrows. Among the 
parasites attacking this bee, we may specially men- 
tion the chalcididous genus Melittobia, of which an 
account is given elsewhere. The common earwig is 
also very destructive, as it penetrates their burrows, 
and eats greedily the food laid up for the progeny of 
the bee. 
Genus Bombus {Humble Bee). — Bees of this genus 
may be at once known by their very large and hairy 
bodies. In Hampshire they are called Dumbledors, 
while in other districts they are named Bumble bees and 
Hummel bees. The name Humble may be a corruption 
of Humming bee, from the loud hum so characteristic 
of the species. In Scotland they are called “Bumbees,” 
while the brown species are called “Foggies.” No 
one who loves to watch nature, in all her varied guise. 
