The Mason-bees 



will behave in its magetic harness. I take 

 a Mason-bee at work in her cell, which I 

 mark. I carry her to my study, at the other 

 end of the house. The magnetized outfit is 

 fastened on the thorax ; and the insect is let go. 

 The moment she is free, the Bee drops to the 

 ground and rolls about, like a mad thing, on 

 the floor of the room. She resumes her flight, 

 flops down again, turns over on her side, on 

 her back, knocks against the things in her 

 way, buzzes noisily, flings herself about de- 

 sperately and ends by daring through the 

 open window in headlong flight. 



What does it all mean? The magnet ap- 

 pears to have a curious effect on my patient's 

 system ! What a fuss she makes ! How ter- 

 rified she is! The Bee seemed utterly dis- 

 traught at losing her bearings tinder the in- 

 fluence of my knavish tricks. Let us go to the 

 nests and see what happens. We have not 

 long to wait : my insect returns, but rid of its 

 magnetic tackle. I recognize it by the traces 

 of gum that still cling to the hair of the 

 thorax. It goes back to its cell and resumes 

 its labours. 



Always on my guard when searching the 

 unknown, unwilling to draw conclusions be- 

 io6 



