98 NATURAL HISTORY. [CH. V. 



fore he should succeed in cutting a circular piece of 

 card to close up the mouth of a thimble so exactly, 

 that, if placed horizontally, no honey should escape ! 

 — yet the bee accomplishes this in a few seconds, 

 and at a distance from the tube ; acting - as if it had 

 preserved the idea of its diameter in its head. The 

 other pieces, entering into the composition of the 

 body of each cell, must also have their exact size ; 

 the outermost must be the largest in every direction, 

 and have a determinate figure ; while the inner ones 

 must be of a less size. 



" If," says Reaumur, " these bees act mechanically, 

 they are very surprising machines ; for they not only 

 cut out certain regular figures, but make them sub- 

 servient to after-use. Whether this be attained by 

 instinctive or intellectual means, the glory is due to 

 that Intelligence which made them and us." In these 

 habitations, the young of the leaf-cutting bee remains 

 during the whole winter, and emerges a perfect insect 

 early in the ensuing spring. 



The bee just described, though ingenious in the 

 furnishing of its humble dwelling, always «chooses 

 the leaf of certain trees of a modest colour ; for there 

 are various kinds of leaf-cutters, using various kinds 

 of leaves. There is, however, another species which 

 may much more strictly be called the upholsterer 

 than the leaf-cutter; for it literally lines its dwelling, 

 which is a perpendicular hole in the ground, with 

 tapestry of the brightest flame-coloured scarlet. 



The nest of this little creature is usually to be 

 found by the side of the paths which traverse corn- 

 fields, and it begins to construct its habitation when 

 the wild poppy is young and fresh in flower, cutting 

 out bits from its thin and crimson leaf, to line a hole 

 which it has dug to the depth of three inches ; the 

 last inch is wider than the first two ; the bottom is 

 first overspread with the tapestry, and the cylindri- 

 cal sides are next lined ; the whole being composed 

 of several layers. After this has been accomplished, 



