The Tribulations of the Mason-bee 



under the actual figure in many cases, is of a 

 kind that gives us a vivid idea of the Mason- 

 bee's activity. The complete nest will com- 

 prise about fifteen cells. Moreover, the heap 

 of cells will be coated at the end with a layer 

 of cement a good finger's-breadth thick. This 

 massive fortification, which is less finished 

 than the rest of the work but more expensive 

 in materials, represents perhaps in itself one- 

 half of the complete task, so that, to establish 

 her dome, Chalicodoma muraria, coming and 

 going across the arid table-land, traverses al- 

 together a distance of 275 miles, which is 

 nearly half of the greatest dimension of 

 France, from north to south. After this, 

 when, worn out with all this fatigue, the Bee 

 retires to a hiding-place to languish in soli- 

 tude and die, she is surely entitled to say: 

 "I have laboured, I have done my duty!" 

 Yes, certainly, the Mason has toiled 

 with a vengeance. To ensure the future of 

 her ofi^spring, she has spent her own 

 life without reserve, her long life of 

 five or six weeks' duration; and now she 

 breathes her last, contented because every- 

 thing is in order in the beloved house : copious 

 rations of the first quality; a shelter against 

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