88 NATURAL HISTORY. [CH. V. 



toughness would not suit its purpose. The position, 

 as well as the quality of the substance is also taken 

 into consideration ; for it will not select a piece of 

 wood placed in a spot where the sun rarely shines. 

 As soon as a piece of dry rotten wood is found, our 

 workman begins to bore in an oblique direction (fig. 

 1), and after having gone to a certain depth, the di- 



rection of the cavity is changed, and is now conti- 

 nued in the wood in an axis perpendicular to the 

 horizon. This is a work which occupies our labour- 

 ers not a few hours, but weeks.* For days together 

 the carpenter-bee may be seen going in and out of 

 the hole, and shovelling out the sawdust, which has 

 resulted from its patient labour. The cavity is from 

 twelve to fifteen inches in length, and often broad 



* This, assuredly, is a great work for a bee, since it is not finished in 

 a day. The insect is occupied about it for weeks, and even for months. 

 REAUMUR, vol. vi. p. 42. 



