( xxxviii ) 



Anihidium have not as yet appeared in this country, and 

 as it seemed very desirable to place them beside the observa- 

 tions of Ferton and the English Hymenopterists, Mr. E. A. 

 Elliott had kindly prepared the following translation : — 



J. H. Fabre, " Souvenirs Entomologiques," 3me serie, 

 1866, pp. 341 et. seqq. 



(N.B. The specific names are mostly French translations 

 of the Latin names, and are here given in French. The 

 scientific names have been added by the Rev. F. D. Morice.) 



Les Osmies. 



The author mentions the use made of the great Arundo 

 donax for fences, sheltering gardens, etc., against the mistral, 

 and for trays used for breeding silkworms. He mentions his 

 unsuccessful search for Osmia nests in the vertical reeds, and 

 explains that these would expose the nests to wet from rain 

 entering the open end and disintegrating the clay stopper. 

 He then states that Osmia tricorne [Osmia tricornis, Latr.] 

 utilises any such hollow reeds when found in the horizontal 

 position. 



" Other localities suit Osmia tricorne, which appears to me 

 willingly to accommodate itself to any place of concealment, 

 provided that it satisfies the requirements of width, solidity, 

 hygiene and quiet obscurity. The most original dwelling I 

 know of is in old shells of snails, especially of the common 

 Helix aspersa. On the slope of hills planted with olive-trees, 

 let us visit the little retaining walls, built of dry stone and 

 facing south. From the crevices of the tottering masonry we 

 may collect old snail-shells, filled with earth to the level of 

 the orifice. The family of Osmia tricorne is established in the 

 spiral of these shells, subdivided into chambers by partitions 

 of clay. 



" Let us examine the piles of small stones, especially those 

 resulting from the labours of the stone-breakers. There 

 frequently the Field Mouse has established himself, and on a 

 couch of green sward, nibbles acorns, almonds, and stones of 

 the olive and apricot. The rodent varies his diet; to oily 



