JSO FAMILI^. (Apis. ^*. c. 2. 5.) 



in dimensions. Each cell is about an inch iit 

 length, and six lines in diameter ; and, before its 

 orifice is closed, in form resembles a thimble. 

 When its walls are raised to a sufficient height, 

 our little mason lays up in it a store of pollen 

 seasoned with honey, for the sustenance of its future 

 inhabitant ; sometimes the proportion of honey 

 is so great, that this provision is entirely liquid. 

 This business settled, she deposits her egg, finishes 

 and covers in the cell, and then proceeds to the 

 erection of a second, which she furnishes and 

 finishes in the same manner ; and so on with re- 

 spect to the ^^'hole nest. These cells are not placed 

 in a line, or any regular order : some are parallel 

 with the wall, others are perpendicular to it, and 

 others are inclined to it at different angles : this 

 occasions many empty spaces between the cells, 

 which this laborious architect fills up with the 

 same kind of cement, and then bestows upon the 

 w^hole group a common covering, made with 

 coarser grains of sand ; so that at length the nest 

 becomes a mass of mortar, very hard and not 

 easily penetrated, even by the blade of a knife. 

 In form, it is more or less oblong ; its colour de- 

 pends upon the colour of the sand employed in its 

 construction, and is different in different countries. 

 These bees sometimes repair old nests, for the pos- 

 session of v.hich they have often very desperate 

 combats. 



'' When 



