The Mason-bees 



save a great deal of time and trouble; and 

 the Mason-bees look out for them and do not 

 decide to build new nests except when the old 

 ones are wanting. 



From one and the same dome there issue 

 several inhabitants, brothers and sisters, ruddy 

 males and black females, all the offspring of 

 the same Bee. The males lead a careless ex- 

 istence, know nothing of work and do not re- 

 turn to the clay houses except for a brief mo- 

 ment to woo the ladies; nor do they reck of 

 the deserted cabin. What they want is the 

 nectar in the flower-cups, not mortar to mix 

 between their mandibles. There remain the 

 young mothers, who alone are charged 

 with the future of the family. To which of 

 them will the inheritance of the old nest re- 

 vert? As sisters, they have equal rights to it: 

 so our code would decide, since the day when 

 it shook itself free of the old savage right of 

 primogeniture. But the Mason-bees have not 

 yet got beyond the primitive basis of 

 property, the right of the first occupant. 



When, therefore, the laying-time is at 

 hand, the Bee takes possession of the first va- 

 cant nest that suits her and settles there; and 

 woe to any sister or neighbour who shall 

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