in HERMIT HOMES 75 



opening into it. In each is placed an egg and its 

 food. All the inmates, therefore, though they lie 

 secluded one from the other, emerge from their 

 nursery, when their time comes, by a common 

 entrance (see Fig. 5). 



The Carpenters are solitary bees so called from the 

 circumstance of their working in wood ; technically 

 they are termed Xylocopa, a word that literally 

 means a " wood-cutter." As far as we are aware, 

 none of the genus are indigenous to this country, but 

 they are scattered over all the warmer regions of the 

 world. A trunk or branch of a tree answers their 

 purpose, and they are particularly partial to old 

 posts, or wood railings, and to the wood-work of 

 houses which has become soft, because beginning to 

 decay. They are never averse to adopting any ready- 

 made hole that they may come across, provided it is 

 not too large; they even refurbish up old nests 

 deserted since a former season's occupation. Xylocopa 

 violacea may be taken as typical* of the race, a lovely 

 creature, larger than the largest humble-bee, with 

 brilliant blue-violet coloured wings and a black 

 velvety body, a native of Southern Europe. The 

 female appears in the early spring, and at once seeks 

 a spot to commence her arduous undertaking. Its 

 selection is evidently a matter of moment and con- 

 siderable time is spent in repeated and thorough 

 investigation ere she fixes upon the wood. An upright 

 piece is usually decided upon, and with her powerful 

 jaws she begins a severe process of boring. For 

 about the depth of an inch she works obliquely down- 

 wards, suddenly the course is altered, and she 



