CH. V.] THE UPHOLSTERER-BEE. 97 



into a tube, lining the whole length of the hole it has 

 made, rounding off and closing one end of it by 

 doubling the pieces one upon another. This is the 

 outermost coating, laid on to prevent the earth from 

 falling in. Within this is made the number of cells 

 which the insect requires. Three semi-ovoid pieces 

 of leaf, rolled in such a manner that the edge of one 

 piece overlaps a little the edge of the next, form the 

 hollow of the cell, its height being less than an inch 

 The ends of these three pieces are then turned up to 

 form the bottom. The bee, however, is not contented 

 with one layer only, but adds to the thickness of the 

 lining of the cell by applying three additional pieces 

 within it ; and again within that three others, so that 

 there are at least three cells put one into another, 

 each made of three pieces of leaves, the bottom of 

 which, being formed of the turning up of the extre- 

 mities of all the morsels used, is ninefold. 



One cell being thus completed, an egg is deposited 

 within it, and the empty space around the egg is 

 filled with food nearly liquid. The cell being placed 

 horizontally, and its contents not being very viscid, 

 it is necessary to cork it up : this operation the bee 

 executes by cutting several circular portions of leaf 

 which precisely fit the mouth of the cell : they are 

 as exactly measured as if a compass had been used 

 in cutting them. 



The second cell is placed on the first, the third on 

 the second ; the whole, when completed, very much 

 resembles a set of thimbles put one upon another, 

 and enclosed in a large toothpick-case (fig. 1, 2). 



This is a very extraordinary result of instinct : 

 how many trials would a human artificer require be- 



