438 



HABITATIONS OF INSECTS. 



The bee last described may be said to exercise the 

 trade of a clothier. Another numerous family would 

 be more properly compared to carpenters, boring with 

 incredible labour out of the solid wood long cylindrical 

 tubes, and dividing them into various cells. Amongst 

 these, one of the most remarkable is the Apis violacea,lj. 

 (Xj/locopa, F.), a large species, a native of Southern 

 Europe, distinguished by beautiful w ings of a deep vio^ 

 let colour, and found commonly in gardens, in the upi 

 right putrescent espaliers or vine-props of which, and 

 occasionally in the garden seats, doors and window- 

 shutters, she makes her nest. In the beginning of 

 spring, after repeated and careful surveys, she fixes 

 upon a piece of wood suitable for her purpose, and 

 with her strong mnndibles begins the process of boring. 

 First proceeding obliquely downwards, she soon points 

 her course in a direction parallel with the sides of the 

 wood, and at length with unwearied exertion forms a 

 cylindrical hole or tunnel not less than twelve or fif- 

 teen inches long and half an inch broad. Sometimes, 

 where the diameter will adnat of it, three or four of 

 these pipes, nearly parallel with each other, are bored 

 in the same piece. Herculean as this task, which is 

 the labour of several days, appears, it is but a small 

 part of what our industrious bee cheerfully undertakes. 

 As yet she has completed but the shell of the destined 

 habitation of her offspring; each of whicli, to the num- 

 ber of ten or twelve, will require a separate and di- 



piipa, after having eaten the provision of pollen and honey with which 

 the parent bee hiid turrounded it. 'J'he vermicular sliape, howevrr, of 

 the masses with whicli (he cases are surrounded, does not seem easily 

 reconcilcablc with this supposition, unless they are considered ai- tl?e 

 excrement of the iai va. 



