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 tlie 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 yomig 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, 



