100 
REVIEWS. 
result of my observations,” Mr. Smith declares, “ leads to the conclusion 
that no species of the Andrenidce is parasitic.” Indeed, the genus 
Prosopis was the only one against which grave suspicions of this nature 
were, till lately, entertained, resting, as it appears, upon no stronger 
evidence than their being destitute of the usual apparatus for collecting 
pollen. The first person that had a word to say for them, as we are 
informed, was Mr. Thwaites, who bred two species from bramble-sticks, in 
which the larvae were found arranged in the same regular order as is the 
case with the acknowledged working bees. 
Mr. Smith, from his own observations, also has vindicated the indus¬ 
trious habits of Sphecodes against Lepelletier St. Fargeau’s imputation of 
parasitism, almost unnecessarily we think, since that hypothesis was framed 
in disregard of the distinct testimony of such accurate observers as 
Reaumur and Kirby. Concerning the kindred Halicti , Kirby has simply 
said, “ the insects of this family nidificate much in the same manner with 
those of the preceding (Sphecodes) in bare banks.” 
Among the genuine bees ( Apidce ) the genus Ceratina has been qualified 
as parasitic by St. Fargeau, again in opposition to the express statement 
of Spiniola, the correctness of which has been confirmed by the late obser¬ 
vations of Thwaites and of our author. They construct their cells, like 
Prosopis , in the dead shoots of brambles. The veritable parasites belong 
to the genera Nomada , Epeolus , Cceiioxys , Stelis , and Melecta , composing 
the tribe Cuculince of Latreille. The Apathi , also, are known to live, on a 
rather ambiguous footing, in the nests of the humble-bees ( Bornbi ), which 
they resemble so closely. We will leave Mr. Smith to state the case for 
them, as he will make the best of it— 
“ What office these bees perform in the economy of the nest has not been dis¬ 
covered ; they live on the most friendly terms with the industrious part of the 
community, and it is probable that upon them devolves some important office, the 
nature of which it would be very interesting to discover. It has been supposed, 
from the very close resemblance of the Apathi to the Bombi, that the former are 
an idle race, reared at the expense of the industrious bees, and wearing a livery in 
imitation of them, for the purpose of deception ; but there can be little doubt of 
these aristocrats of the community performing important and necessary duties 
highly conducive to the general prosperity of the whole. That the close resem¬ 
blance of these bees is not for the purpose of deception is at once proved by the 
fact of A. Barbutellus, a yellow-banded bee, being found in the nest of B. Der- 
hamellus, a black species having the tip of the body red ; and we have already 
seen that, amongst the solitary bees, the greatest difference in appearance exists; 
we would instance Epeolus and Colletes, Andrena and .Nomada, also Melecta and 
Anthophora.” 
But, in truth, these same humble-bees are a much-enduring race of 
drudges, as many a schoolboy can testify, who has learned to “pluck the 
