174 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



individuals of this species. To construct the inner leafy cells, with their 

 numerous parts, is a labor of little moment when contrasted with the 

 hours that must be spent in moulding the clay for the outer side into 

 ■small pellets, and then adjusting them to their proper positions. The 

 existence of two bees in separate cases of silk, one above the other, in 

 the same earthy apartment, seems to imply the existence of a double leafy 

 - cell, even though a partition between the two should be wanting. 



It would appear that the deposition of one cell upon another would 

 defeat the object which the mother MegacJiilc had in view. On the 

 supposition that oviposition in the upper cell took place subsequently to 

 that in the lower, the time of leaving the egg would be earlier in the 

 latter, the larva would sooner mature, and the perfect insect would be 

 prepared to leave its prison-house anterior to its associate, and, 

 being unable to effect its exit by reason of the narrowness 

 of its domicile, would perish. This, doubtless, would be the upshot of 

 the affair if similar cells in like situations should be built in the summer 

 season. But as far as I have had any experience in the matter, the 

 summer abodes of MegacJiilc are single, a few inches below the surface of 

 the ground, and generally under the shelter of some protecting shrub, 

 where the warm rays of the sun can not effect any mischief This site is 



• doubtless well selected for the reasons above adduced. 



There are usually two broods of this species in a season ; a summer 

 brood, which makes its appearance early in July, and a spring brood 

 which has survived the winter in its double cell of earth and leaves. It 

 ,is possible that the larva, after having exhausted its stock of honey and 

 pollen, its natural food early in the fall, passes into the condition of a 

 pupa, and thus remains until awakened from its sleep by the genial warmth 



• of spring. 



In the cells designed for the winter accommodation of the species, the 

 double arrangement of the inner cells will not materially affect the original 

 purpose, since both insects will have passed through the cycle of trans- 

 formations, and when the suitable time shall have arrived for their 

 departure, the one occupying the upper cell will have made its way out 

 .and thus left a clear passage for the one below. 



The absence of a line of separation between the two cells appears to 

 indicate that the food had been deposited in the lower cell, and two eggs 

 instead of one had been left in mistake. Where it is the custom of the 

 insect to deposit but one egg, instinct teaches it to collect just enough 



