94 NATURAL HISTORY. [CH. V. 



which it deposit.es as a support for its young. To 

 facilitate the execution of this task, it is taught by 

 instinct the exact quantity of food required to supply 

 each grub with nourishment. It enters the cups of 

 flowers, and daubs itself all over with pollen, and 

 then flies to the nest, where the vegetable dust is 

 brushed neatly off, and deposited in the store cell ; 

 on this it disgorges from its honey-bag a small por- 

 tion of honey. These materials, well mixed and 

 kneaded together, are formed into bee-bread; the 

 requisite quantity of this substance having been 

 prepared, and nicely packed, an egg is then laid in 

 each cell, the top is carefully closed, and the labour 

 of the mason-bee terminates. The scene of its in- 

 dustry, and the objects of all its care and tender- 

 ness, seem to be then all at once forgotten ; the pur- 

 poses of nature having been answered, and the per- 

 petuation of the race having been provided for, the 

 individual insect dies. 



These insects have frequently been observed to 

 appropriate the labours and usurp the rights of one 

 another. While a mason-bee was on the wing in 

 search of materials for finishing a cell, Du Hamel 

 saw another enter and take possession of it without 

 the slightest ceremony. It turned about in every 

 direction, examined every part, and then began to 

 proceed as if the whole had been raised by its own 

 industry. When the real owner of the dwelling re- 

 turned, the stranger would not budge a jot ; in order 

 to obtain possession of its own, the former insect 

 laid down its load of mortar and offered battle; 

 which was readily accepted by the trespasser. 

 These combats, although curious and long, seldom 

 prove mortal. The insect which gets soonest fa- 

 tigued by the contest retires, leaving its victorious 

 antagonist in possession of the cell which formed 

 the subject of dispute. 



The mason-bee, like other insects, is exposed to 

 the attacks and depredations of various natural ene- 



