The Mason-bees 



repeated the experiment, therefore, almost 

 every year, always with the same success. I 

 can only add that, among the Bees placed by 

 my artifices under the necessity of making up 

 for lost time, a few are of a more easy-going 

 temperament. I see some building anew, as 

 if nothing out of the way had happened; 

 others — this is a very rare course — going to 

 settle on another tile, as though to avoid a 

 society of thieves; and lastly a few who bring 

 pellets of mortar and zealously finish the lid 

 of their own cell, although it contains a 

 strange egg. However, housebreaking is the 

 usual thing. 



One more detail not without value: It Is 

 not necessary for you to intervene and im- 

 prison Mason-bees for a time In order to wit- 

 ness the acts of violence which I have de- 

 scribed. If you follow the work of the swarm 

 assiduously, you may occasionally find a sur- 

 prise awaiting you. A Mason-bee will appear 

 and, for no reason known to you, break open 

 a door and lay her egg in the violated cell. 

 From what goes before, I look upon the Bee 

 as a laggard, kept away from the workyard 

 by an accident, or else carried to a distance 

 by a gust of wind. On returning after an 

 234 



