CHAPTER XI 



THE AVENTURES OF A GRUB 



THE YOUNG SITARIS 



THE high banks of sandy clay in the country 

 round about Carpentras are the favourite 

 haunts of a host of Bees and Wasps, those 

 lovers of a sunny aspect and of soil that is easy to dig 

 in. Here, in the month of May, two Bees, both of them 

 Mason-bees, builders of subterranean cells, are espe- 

 cially abundant. One of them builds at the entrance of 

 her dwelling an advanced fortification, an earthly 

 cylinder, wrought in open work and curved, of the 

 width and length of a man's finger. When it is peopled 

 with many Bees one stands amazed at the elaborate 

 ornamentation formed by all these hanging fingers of 

 clay. 



The other Bee, who is very much more frequently 

 seen and is called Anthophora pilipes, leaves the opening 

 of her corridor bare. The chinks between the stones 

 in old walls and abondoned hovels, or exposed surfaces 

 of sand stone or marl, are found suitable for her labours; 



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