Experiments 



stung. The sting can be avoided with a little 

 dexterity, but not always. You have to put 

 up with it. In any case, the Mason-bee's sting 

 is far less painful than that of the Hive-bee. 

 The white spot is dropped on the thorax; the 

 mason flies off; and the mark dries on the 

 journey. 



I start with two Mason-bees of the Walls 

 working at their nests on the pebbles in the 

 alluvia of the Aygues, not far from Serignan. 

 I carry them home with me to Orange, where 

 I release them after marking them. Accord- 

 ing to the ordnance-survey map, the distance 

 is about two and a half miles as the crow flies. 

 The captives are set at liberty in the evening, 

 at a time when the Bees begin to leave off 

 work for the day. It is therefore probable 

 that my two Bees will spend their night in the 

 neighbourhood. 



Next morning, I go to the nests. The 

 weather is still too cool and the works are 

 suspended. When the dew has gone, the 

 masons begin work. I see one, but without a 

 white spot, bringing pollen to one of the nests 

 which had been occupied by the travellers 

 whom I am expecting. She is a stranger who, 

 finding the cell whose owner I myself had 

 43 



