The Mason-bees 



I could. These maimed ones were then car- 

 ried to a distance and released. They returned 

 to the nest with as little difficulty as the others. 

 I once experimented in the same way with the 

 largest of our Cerceres {Cerceris tiihercU' 

 lata) '^ and the Weevil-huntress returned to 

 her galleries. This rids us of one hypothesis: 

 the sense of direction is not exercised by the 

 antennae. Then where is its seat? I do not 

 know. 



What I do know is that the Mason-bees 

 without antennae, though they go back to the 

 cells, do not resume work. They persist in 

 flying in front of their masonry, they alight 

 on the clay cup, they perch on the rim of the 

 cell and there, seemingly pensive and forlorn, 

 stand for a long time contemplating the work 

 which will never be finished ; they go off, they 

 come back, they djive away any importunate 

 neighbour, but they fetch and carry no more 

 honey or mortar. The next day, they do not 

 appear. Deprived of her tools, the worker 

 loses all heart in her task. When the Mason- 

 bee is building, the antennae are constantly 



'Another Hunting-wasp, who feeds her young on 

 Weevils. Cf. Insect Life: chaps, iv. and v. — Translator's 

 Note. 



ISO 



