v SOCIAL HOMES 157 



rarely reaching more than three or four inches above 

 the surface, and composed generally of fragments of 

 moss cleverly woven into an admirable covering, 

 made to harmonise with surrounding objects with the 

 view of concealing it from curious eyes. Besides 

 moss, the bee's favourite material apparently 

 whence its name muscorum, " of the mosses," dead 

 leaves, grass, fern-fronds, and other matters are 

 frequently adopted where moss is scarce or absent ; 

 but whatever the substance may be it is within easy 

 reach, for the bee never attempts to transport any- 

 thing from a distance. The material is prepared for 

 roofing purposes in a manner similar to that of card- 

 ing cotton or wool, or heckling flax. The process 

 consists in the operator carefully disentangling the 

 fibre, seizing it and drawing it through her jaws and 

 forelegs, subsequently she passes it under her body 

 by means of the remaining pair of legs, forming it as 

 she does so into a small ball or bundle convenient for 

 carrying home. The object of the dome is obviously 

 to protect and hide the dwelling, which lies at the 

 slight depth of an inch or two beneath the soil. 

 Although the moss is laid down in considerable 

 quantity it would be inefficient to exclude rain ; and as 

 a rule a lining is added, a thick coating of grayish- 

 yellow wax similar to that of which the breeding- 

 cells are made, but of far inferior quality to the wax 

 of the hive, rendering the interior water-tight. The 

 entrance to the nest is in the lower part, and is 

 generally a kind of tunnel or covered way, sometimes 

 more than a foot long and half an inch wide, more 

 effectually concealing the abode from observation. 



