The Mason-bees 



henceforth dare to contest her ownership. 

 Hot pursuits and fierce blows will soon put 

 the newcomer to flight. Of the various cells 

 that yawn like so many wells around the 

 dome, only one is needed at the moment; but 

 the Bee rightly calculates that the others will 

 be useful presently for the other eggs; and 

 she watches them all with jealous vigilance to 

 drive away possible visitors. Indeed, I do not 

 remember ever seeing two masons working 

 on the same pebble. 



The task is now very simple. The Bee ex- 

 amines the old cell to see what parts require 

 repairing. She tears off the strips of cocoon 

 hanging from the walls, removes the frag- 

 ments of clay that fell from the ceiling when 

 pierced by the last inhabitant to make her 

 exit, gives a coat of mortar to the dilapidated 

 parts, mends the opening a little; and that Is 

 all. Next come the storing, the laying of the 

 eggs and the closing of the chamber. When 

 all the cells, one after the other, are thus fur- 

 nished, the outer cover, the mortar dome, re- 

 ceives a few repairs If it needs them ; and the 

 thing is done. 



The Sicilian Mason-bee prefers company 

 to a solitary life and establishes herself in her 

 26 



