36 INSECT ARCHITECTURE. 



where they were incessantly entering and re-appear^ 

 ing, we were of opinion that they were a pecuUar 

 sort of the social earth bees {Bombiis). On ap- 

 proaching the spot, however, we remarked that the 

 bees were not alarmed, and manifested none of the 

 irritation usual in such cases, the consequence of 

 jealous affection for their young. This led us to ob- 

 serve their operations more minutely; and we soon 

 discovered that on issuing from the hole each bee 

 carried out in its mandibles a piece of clay. Still 

 supposing that they were social earth bees, we con- 

 cluded that they were busy excavating a hollow for 

 their nest, and carrying oft' tlie refuse to prevent dis- 

 covery. The mouth of the hole was overhung, and 

 partly concealed by a large pebble. This we removed, 

 and widened the entrance of the hole, intending to dig 

 down and ascertain the state of the operations; but 

 we soon found that it was of small depth. The bees, 

 being scared away, began scooping out clay from 

 another hole about a yard distant from the first. 

 Upon our withdrawing a few feet from the first hole, 

 they returned thither in preference, and continued as- 

 siduously digging and removing the clay. It became 

 obvious, therefore, from their thus changing place, 

 that they were not constructing a nest, but merely 

 quarrying for clay as a building material. By catching 

 one of the bees ( Osmia hicorms) when it was loaded 

 with its burden, we ascertamed that the clay was not 

 only carefully kneaded, but was also more moist than 

 the mass from which it had been taken. The bee, 

 therefore, in preparing the pellet, which was nearly 

 as large as a garden pea, had moistened it with its 

 saliva, or some similar fluid, to render it, we may 

 suppose more tenacious, and better fitted for build- 

 ing. The reason of their digging a hole, instead of 

 taking clay indiscriminately from the bank, appeared 

 to be for the purpose of economizing their saliva, as 



