LIFE IN THE INSECT WORLD. 181 



I wU try to make you understand how this 

 is done. 



She generally chooses the green leaves of the 

 rose bush, although she sometimes makes use 

 of those of other plants. Each of the cells is 

 composed of from nine to twelve pieces of leaf, 

 and when the bottom one, which is, of course, 

 formed first, is finished, she puts into it a quan- 

 tity of pollen paste, in which she deposits an 

 egg, and covers it with three layers of leaves, 

 each of which is cut perfectly round, and exact- 

 ly fitted into the thimble. Another cell is then 

 made and fitted into the first, as I have described 

 to you. This being also supplied with pollen, 

 and covered with leaves, a third is placed with- 

 in it, arid so on until the nest is completed. 



I remember having read a story of a supersti- 

 tious French gardener, who, having accidentally 

 dug up one of these nests, thought it so wonder- 

 ful an affair that it must certainly be the work 

 of a magician, who had placed it there with a 

 a design to injure him* He accordingly sent it 

 to his master in Paris, with the request that he 

 would take measures to have the evil spirit 

 driven out of the place. The master carried it 

 16* 



