MASOX-BEES. 31 



considerable, as tliere was no wall near, in the direction they 

 all flew towards, upon which they could build ; and in the 

 same direction also, it is worthy of remark, they could have 

 procured much nearer the very same sort of clay. What- 

 ever might be the cause of their preference, we could not 

 but admire their extraordinary industry. It did not require 

 more than half a minute to knead one of the pellets of clay ; 

 and, from their frequent returns, probably not more than 

 five minutes to carry it to the nest, and apply it where 

 wanted. From the dryness of the weather, indeed, it was 

 indispensable for them to work rapidly, otherwise the clay 

 could not have been made to hold together. The extent 

 of the whole labour of forming a- single nest may be im- 

 agined, if we estimate that it must take several hundred 

 pellets of clay for its completion. If a bee work fourteen 

 or fifteen hours a-day, therefore, carrying ten or twelve 

 pellets to its nest every hour, it will be able to finish the 

 structure in about two or three days ; allowing some hours 

 of extra time for the more nice workmanship of the cells in 

 which the eggs are to be deposited, and the young grubs 

 reared. 



That the construction of such a nest is not a merely 

 agreeable exercise to the mason-bee has been sufficiently 

 proved by M. Du Hamel. He has observed a bee (Megachile 

 muraria) less careful to perform the necessary labour for the 

 protection of her offspring than those we have described, 

 but not less desirous of obtaining this protection, attempt 

 to usurp tlie nest which another had formed. A fierce 

 battle was invariably the consequence of this attempt ; for 

 the tme mistress would never give place to the intruder. 

 The motive for the injustice and the resistance was an in- 

 disposition to further labour. The trial of strength was 

 probably, sometimes, of as little use in establishing the 

 right as it is amongst mankind ; and tlie proper owner, 

 exhausted by her efforts, had doubtless often to surrender to 

 the dishonest usurper. 



The account which Reaumur has given of the operations 

 of this class of bees differs considerably from that which 

 we have here detailed ; from the species being different, or 



