NATURE'S CRAFTSMEN 



apart, but the drifts sometimes cut closely to one an- 

 other. One wonders what the effect might be should 

 they chance to intersect, and whether their subterranean 

 worldlet may not witness strange happenings ''i' the 

 imminent deadly breach." 



The burrows are about the bigness of the occupant, 

 and extend inward for a foot or so with sundry enlarge- 

 ments, after the fashion of their kind, wherein the young 

 are bred. In the height of the season these bee neigh- 

 borhoods are the scene of a busy life. The air resounds 

 with the hum of wings as the insects fly to and fro on 

 parental duties bent, plenishing their nurseries with 

 pollen and honey-of-the-flowers. But just inside each 

 burrow gate an interesting phase of insect life goes on. 

 Beyond the gateway, which is about the length of the 

 bee, there rises a vestibule, a tiny expansion of the 



MALE OF HALICTITS PRUINOSUS ADMITTING THE FEMALE TO THE 

 GUARDED BURROW 



burrow, whose use soon appears. Just within the gate- 

 way, with face towards the opening, one of the house- 

 keepers, now the male and now the female, but oftener 

 the former, keeps constantly on guard. And great need 

 there is for such sentry-duty, for insect rogues and 



152 



