The Mason-bees 



The cell as yet is no more than a shallow cup, 

 containing no provisions. I make a big hole 

 in the bottom of the cup and the Bee hastens 

 to stop the breach. She was busy building 

 and turned aside a moment to do more build- 

 ing. Her repairs are the continuation of the 

 work on which she was engaged. 



A third has laid her egg and closed the cell. 

 While she is gone in search of a fresh supply 

 of cement to strengthen the door, I make a 

 large aperture immediately below the lid, too 

 high up to allow the honey to escape. The in^ 

 sect, on arriving with its mortar intended for 

 a different task, sees its broken jar and soon 

 puts the damage right. I have rarely wit- 

 nessed such a sensible performance. Never- 

 theless, all things considered, let us not be too 

 lavish of our praises. The insect was busy 

 closing up. On its return, it sees a crack, 

 representing in Its eyes a bad joint which it 

 had overlooked; It completes its actual task by 

 improving the joint. 



The conclusion to be drawn from these 

 three instances, which I select from a large 

 number of others, more or less similar, is that 

 the insect is able to cope with emergencies, 

 provided that the new action be not outside 

 170 



