ANTHIDJUM. 
281 
lowed to fit the metathorax; the segments slightly con¬ 
stricted, the terminal segment transversely concave, and 
its apex terminating in three slight angles; the venter, 
which is flat, is densely clothed from the second segment 
with parallel layers of equal, moderately long, shining hair, 
the segment being distinctly indicated by these layers. 
The male differs in being considerably larger; the 
mandibles merely tridentate; the legs longer and more 
robust; the tibiae and tarsi more densely fimbriated 
externally, and the tarsi relatively much longer; the 
abdomen densely edged laterally with short curled hair, 
the terminal segment with three processes, the lateral 
ones strong and curved internally, the central one 
shorter and straight, and the penultimate segment trans¬ 
versely concave, with a strong tooth on each side curved 
externally, and the venter glabrous beneath. 
NATIVE SPECIES. 
1. manicatum , Linnaeus. 5-8 lines. (Plate XIII. fig. 
1 $ ?•) 
manicatum, Kirby. 
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 
The generic name in this instance seems to be manu¬ 
factured from the root av6o<;, a floiver. I cannot trace 
any other derivation as it may not be attributed merely 
to the habits of the species in frequenting flowers, for is 
not this the prime function of all the bees, wherein they 
fulfil a most important office in the economy of nature ? 
Plow easy might it have been to regulate that flowers 
should fertilize themselves, as many do without any ex¬ 
traneous intervention, but by this wise and benevolent 
ordination a tribe of sensitive creatures is introduced to 
