ih HERMIT HOMES 79 



The Mason bees of Reaumur belonging to the genera 

 Osmia and Chalicodoma are remarkable for the 

 singular variety of their architecture, or it would be 

 nearer the truth to say that they are gifted with 

 remarkable power of adaptation to circumstances, 

 and vary the details of their operations, through all of 

 which runs one undeviating plan. Their structures 

 are elaborate, and they exercise peculiar care as to 

 the materials used, each species selecting a particular 

 substance ; the site of the home is also subject to 

 much fluctuation. Differing from all others this 

 applies especially to the Osmia in having their 

 hind legs unsuited for the gathering of pollen, they 

 achieve the collection of food by a multitude of 

 stiffish hairs on the rings of the lower part of 

 the abdomen. One of the commonest mason bees, 

 the large and massive Chalicodoma muraria, or in 

 plain English the " stone house," a name derived 

 from its building capabilities, is a builder in the 

 ordinary sense of the word, for its homes are not of 

 the more primitive burrow type, but are erections and 

 of true masonry. On a rock, or stone, or wall of 

 sunny aspect, they may constantly be seen, irregular, 

 oblong, or egg-shaped masses, looking to the casual 

 observer like so many splashes of mud which 

 had been thrown against the wall and had 

 become hardened. Suppose the bee to have 

 chosen the site of her future dwelling, as with 

 all others a matter for deliberation. Off she 

 flies to a spot where suitable building-stuffs are 

 obtainable, and with her mandibles collects sand and 

 small stones, and glues them with her viscid saliva to 



