The Tribulations of the Mason-bee 



sive, the Dioxys' egg, If It Is really laid then, 

 is not placed on the surface. 



I suspect, without having yet verified my 

 suspicion — and I reproach myself for the 

 neglect — I suspect that the egg is buried in 

 the heap of pollen-dust. When I see the 

 Dioxys come out of a cell with her mouth all 

 over yellow flour, perhaps she has been sur- 

 veying the ground and preparing a hiding- 

 place for her egg. What I take for a mere 

 tasting might well be a more serious act. 

 Thus concealed, the egg escapes the eagle eye 

 of the Bee, whereas, if left uncovered, it 

 would inevitably perish, would be flung on 

 the rubbish-heap at once by the owner of the 

 nest. When the Spotted Sapyga-wasp lays 

 her egg on that of the Bramble-dwelling 

 Osmia, she does the deed under cover of 

 darkness, in the gloom of a deep well to 

 which not the least ray of light can pene- 

 trate; and the mother, returning with her 

 pellet of green putty to build the closing par- 

 tition, does not see the usurping germ and is 

 ignorant of the danger. But here every- 

 thing happens in broad daylight; and this 

 demands more cunning in the method of in- 

 stallation. 



259 



