84 NEST OF THE POPPY BEE. 



height of about half au inch. In this magazine of provisions 

 for her future progeny she lays an egg, and, over it, folds 

 down the tapestry of poppy petals from above. The upper 

 part is then filled in with earth."* 



AVho but must admire the skill and ingenuity of this little 

 upholsterer ? But admirable as is her work, and interesting its 

 design, it stands most distinguished from that of various other 

 insect artizaus by the singular showiness of the material she 

 selects for conversion to her purpose. What can be her 

 inciting motive to its choice is a question which,, until we can 

 exchange identity for a moment with some poppy bee, we can 

 never expect, with certainty, to answer. 



Perhaps the pliability and size of the poppy petal may alone 

 cause her to regard it as best adapted for her intended drapery ; 

 but she sometimes lights, doubtless, on other flower-leaves 

 with the same requisites for her purpose, though never, it 

 would seem, converted to it. 



Perhaps the poppy's brilliant scarlet may please her taste, 

 an endowment of which, as displayed in their highly-finished 

 and decorated works, the author above quoted considers that 

 insects may not be entirely destitute. It seems, indeed, very 

 likely that, of taste, considered as a perception of the beautiful 

 and the pleasing, insects and other animals may possess a 

 much larger share than man, in his exclusiveness, is accustomed 

 to allow them ; though we alone can boast (and with no great 



* ' Insect Architecture.' 



