LIFE IN THE INSECT WORLD. 177 



tube which she has bored is now to be divided 

 into cells, as it is necessary that each of the 

 young grubs should be entirely separated from 

 the others. In the bottom of the hole, or nest, 

 as we may now call it, she lays an egg, which 

 she covers to the depth of nearly an inch with 

 the pollen of flowers mixed with honey, upon 

 which the grubs of all bees appear to feed. 



Harriet. I suppose this is intended as food for 

 the young one, when it is hatched from the egg. 



Jlunt M. Yes ; and although the mother 

 has never before seen a nest made, and cannot, 

 of course, remember the one in which she was 

 herself reared, nor the quantity of food she re- 

 quired, she knows just how much it is neces- 

 sary to provide for each of her little ones, and 

 furnishes it accordingly. This is particularly 

 important in her case. Many insects feed their 

 young daily, and others are placed in situations 

 where they can obtain a sufficient supply for 

 themselves. But the grub of the carpenter bee 

 is completely fastened in its little cell, and never 

 leaves it until it has passed through all its 

 changes and become a perfect insect; neither 

 can its mother have access to it ; so that if it 

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