EUCERA. 
235 
do not change into pupae until raid-spring, and speedily 
transform into the imago, which, until fully matured, is 
closely in every part and limb covered with a thin silky 
pellicle, wherein it lies as in a shroud, but at its appointed 
time, regulated by some influence of which we have no 
cognizance, active life becomes developed, it then casts 
off its envelope and comes forth to revel in the sun¬ 
shine, in close companionship with a partner which its 
instinct promptly teaches it to find. The largest of our 
native Nomadce is its parasite the N. sexcinctu, and 
which seems wholly restricted to it, but which is often 
even rare in places where the Eucera abounds. The 
female, like those of the rest of the bees, is no time- 
waster, but flies steadily to and fro in her occupation of 
provisioning her nest, and the male often accompanies 
her in these expeditions, gallantly winging about with 
extreme velocity as if to divert his sedulous companion 
in the fatigue of her toil, by his evolutions and his 
music, which is very sonorous. And on a fine May day 
it is extremely pleasant in a picturesque situation to sit 
and watch the operations of these very active insects. 
In their recent state, when just evolved from the nidus, 
they are very elegant, being covered with a close silky 
down, which labour and exposure soon abrades. It is 
said that this bee deserts her nest when she finds the 
stranger’s egg deposited on the provender laid up in 
store, or when she meets with the Nomada within, which 
sometimes lays two eggs in one cell. To this she does 
not deliver battle, as does the Anthophora to Melecta, 
but patiently vacates the nest, leaving it to the service 
of the parasite, which is also supposed to close it her¬ 
self, having been caught with clay encrusted upon her 
posterior legs. For the accuracy of this supposition I 
