BURROWING AND CARPENTER BEES 



a little to one side, rounds out the end, and spreads 

 upon it a mucous secretion that hardens into a pouch- 

 like lining. This is her brood-cell. 



She has pierced the soil at the rate of about five 

 inches a day, sub- , 



I / / / ,jM^^ ■' '^ 



ject somewhat to 

 the fickle weather 

 of the season. 

 Meanwhile her toil 

 is lightened by 

 marital visits, as 

 the male seeks his 

 mate in the priv 

 acy 







3 m the priv- 'mi-p^S&i^^^W ^ W^^0^^^-- 

 of her subter- .-^^^^mfW^^"^' • '^ ###^¥-- 







ranean quarters. '^^L; ^ef^^i:^^^^^.. 



And now the cell 

 must be duly 

 charged, so away 

 the expectant 

 mother flies in 

 search of pollen 

 and nectar. Where 

 she finds these at 

 that border season 

 of the year has 

 not been discov- 

 ered. But the bee 

 has a sharper eye 



and a keener scent The bottom of the burrow is filled with sand 



than even a natu- 

 ralist; and duly her brooding chalice is half filled with 

 a pasty mixture of pollen and honey, and covered with 

 a parchment-like seal. 



la 163 



BURROW AND BROODING-CELLS OP A BUR- 

 ROWING BEE {cor.LETES INEQUALIs) 



