CARPENTER-BEES. 



49 



A. represents a part of an espalier prop, tunnelled in several 

 places by the violet carpenter-bee: the stick is split, and shows the 

 nests and passages by which they are approached. 13, a portion 

 of the prop, haH the natural size. C, a piece of thin stick, pierced 

 by the carpenter-bee, and split, to show the nests. D. Perspec- 

 tive view of one of the partitions. E, Carpenter-bee (Xylocopa 

 violacea). F, Teeth of the carpenter-bee, greatly magnified : a, the 

 upper side ; b, lower side 



purpose, she cements round a wall a ring of wood 

 chips, taken from her store heap ; and within this ring 

 forms another, gradually contracting the diameter till 

 she has constructed a circular plate, about the thick- 

 ness of a crown-piece, and of considerable hardness, 



VOL. IV. 5 



