More Enquiries into Mason-bees 



to avoid collisions during the rotation; lastly, 

 the box shall be tied to a cord and I will whirl 

 the whole thing round like a sling. With this 

 contrivance, it will be quite easy to obtain 

 any rate of speed that I wish, any variety of 

 inverse movements that I consider likely to 

 make my captives lose their bearings. I can 

 whirl my sling first in one direction and then 

 in another, turn and turn about; I can slacken 

 or increase the pace; if I like, I can make it 

 describe figures of eight, combined with cir- 

 cles; if I spin on my heels at the same time, I 

 am able to make the process still more com- 

 plicated by compelling my sling to trace every 

 known curve. That is what I shall do. 



On the 2d of May, 1880, I make a white 

 mark on the thorax of ten Mason-bees busied 

 with various tasks : some are exploring the 

 slabs of clay in order to select a site; others 

 are bricklaying; others are laying in stores. 

 When the mark is dry, I catch them and pack 

 them as I have described. I first carry them 

 a quarter of a mile in the opposite direction 

 to the one which I intend to take. A path 

 skirting my house favours this preliminary 

 manoeuvre ; I have every hope of being alone 

 when the time comes to make play with my 

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