1 78 SOLITARY BEES AND WASPS. 



England, and we must look very carefully if we 

 wish to find their nests. 



One kind of Osmia will scoop out the pith 

 from a piece of bramble-stem and make cells 

 in it composed of minccd-up bit.s of wood or 

 leaves. Another kind will choose an empty snail- 

 shell and fill it up most cleverly with little cells 

 to hold her eggs. A third species of Osmia 

 thinks a keyhole is a most suitable place for 

 her nursery, and will so fill it up with plastered 

 earth, eggs and pollen, that the lock is rendered 

 perfectly useless. 



HALICTUS. 

 (TO CROWD TOGETHER.) 



This curious bee prefers to work after the sun 

 has gone down, especially on moonlight nights. 

 Like the Colletes, it is fond of building in 

 colonies. 



They burrow into the ground about eight inches, 

 working in such crowds that it is difficult to 

 avoid treading upon them. They seem able to 



