REVIEWS. 
101 
honeybag o’ the bee,” before his acquaintance with the sweets of Shaks- 
peare’s Muse has gone much further. We turn to Kirby’s homely, but 
faithful, picture of their awkward feats in the science of self-defence. 
11 When these animals are walking upon the ground, if a finger be moved 
to them, they lift up the three legs of one side to defend themselves, 
which gives them a very grotesque appearance.” Mr. Smith has noticed 
more particularly—• 
u The various degrees of pugnacity which they exhibit when their dominions are 
invaded; the moss-builders exhibit little or no courage in the defence of their 
citadel, they may be taken with impunity; but a far different race are those which 
build underground; these are bold and daring insects, which defend their nests 
with great courage. 
u The term moss-builders must not be taken literally, since many nests are 
composed entirely of grass and leaves; but in situations where moss is plentiful, 
the nests will be found to be constructed entirely of that material. To show that 
humble-bees avail themselves of such materials as are most readily found, and 
suitable to their purpose, I may instance a very remarkable nest found near a 
farm-house. One of the brown species of humble-bees was observed frequently 
flying into a stable through the latticed window ; the bee was busily engaged in 
collecting bundles of short horse-hair accumulated from the currying of horses ; 
this she flew off with to a short distance, and settled down with it amongst some 
grass; on examining the spot, a nest composed entirely of horse-hair was dis¬ 
covered ; this interesting nest was destroyed before the bee had quite completed its 
construction. Another very interesting deviation from the usual economy of the 
moss-building bees was observed by Dr. William Bell. During the summer of 
1854, a robin built its nest in the porch of his cottage at Putney; some time after 
this had been observed, an humble-bee took possession of the nest, and adapted it 
to her own purpose; he was, unfortunately, unable to identify the species by cap¬ 
turing a specimen, the nest having been destroyed; but Dr. Bell saw the bee on 
one occasion, and observed that it was black with yellow bands, probably Bombus 
pratorum.” 
The economy of the “ cuckoo-bees” has been hitherto so imperfectly 
investigated, that Mr. Smith may justly claim credit for the additional 
materials he has contributed towards their biography. Of the Nomadce , 
the most numerous in species among the parasitic genera, we have the 
following account:—■ 
‘ ‘ The bees belonging to this genus are popularly known by the name of wasp- 
bees, from their close resemblance, in their gay colouring, to the smaller species of 
Vespidae ; they are, however, true bees, and constitute the most beautiful of all the 
genera found in this country ; notwithstanding the generally-received history of 
their economy, we shall search in vain for much precise information. 
No one appears to know anything beyond the mere fact of their entering the bur¬ 
rows of Andrenidae and Apidae, except that they are found in the ceils of the 
working bees in their perfect condition; it is most probable that they deposit on 
the provision laid up by the working-bee, that they close up the cell, and that the 
working-bee, finding an egg deposited, commences a fresh cell for her own pro¬ 
geny. My reason for thinking it probable that the parasite closes the cell is, that 
1 have frequently captured Nomadas and Melectae with masses of clay attached to 
their posterior tibiae; and in the well-known genus of exotic parasitic bees, Cro- 
cisa, specimens are of frequent occurrence which have masses of clay or mixed 
earth on their tibiae ; this, however, requires, and is deserving of, further investi¬ 
gation. I have found several of the species in the cells of Andrenidae—these will 
