296 INSECT LIFE xxi 



in seeking her nest. Let us come to the facts. We 

 must repeat on the mason bee my earlier experi- 

 ments with the Cerceris — namely, carrying the insect 

 in darkness far from the nest, marking and setting it 

 free. In case any one should wish to repeat the 

 experiment, I will explain my method of operation, 

 which may make it easier for a beginner. The insect 

 destined for a long journey must of course be captured 

 with certain precautions. No nippers, no pincers 

 which might maim a wing, strain it, and endanger 

 power of flight. While the bee is absorbed in 

 work within her cell, I cover the latter with a little 

 glass tube. As she flies out she goes into this, and 

 thus, without touching her, I can transfer her to a 

 twist of paper and close it quickly. A botanical 

 tin serves as a means of transporting the captives, 

 each in its paper prison. 



It is on the spots chosen as starting-places that 

 the most delicate operation takes place — namely, 

 marking each captive before freeing her. I use 

 chalk powdered fine and moistened with a strong 

 solution of gum arable. Dropped somewhere on 

 the insect with a straw, it leaves a white mark, which 

 dries quickly and adheres to the bee's fleece. If a 

 mason bee has to be marked, so as to distinguish 

 her from another in an experiment of short duration, 

 such as I shall presently describe, I only touch the 

 tip of the abdomen with a straw charged with colour 

 while the insect is half inside the cell, head down- 

 wards. The bee does not notice the slight touch 

 and works on undisturbed ; but the mark is not 

 very durable, nor at a spot favourable for its preser- 

 vation, since the bee frequently brushes her body to 



