3IO INSECT LIFE 



XXII 



spot chosen by them and work in turn — now at their 

 own cell, now at that of the other. 



It may be thought that the confusion was caused 

 by a close resemblance between the two nests, since, 

 at first little expecting the results obtained, I began by 

 choosing those as much alike as possible, lest the bees 

 should be repelled. My caution presupposed a clear- 

 sightedness the insect did not possess. I now took two 

 nests exceedingly unlike, except that in each the bee 

 found a cell advanced in its work to the same point. 

 The first was an old nest, with the dome pierced with 

 eight holes, the orifices of cells of a preceding genera- 

 tion ; one of these had been restored, and the bee 

 was storing it. The second was a new nest, with no 

 dome, and composed of a single cell with little stones 

 on the outside. Here too the bee was storing her 

 paste. Certainly no two nests could differ more : the 

 one with its eight vacant rooms, and its ample dome 

 of clay, the other with a single cell — bare, and at 

 most the size of an acorn. 



Well, the two mason bees did not hesitate long 

 before the two exchanged nests — hardly a yard apart. 

 Each went to the site of its former abode. The owner 

 of the old nest found but a single cell. She rapidly 

 inspected the stone, and without further ceremony 

 first plunged her head into the cell to disgorge 

 honey, and then her hind-quarters to drop pollen. 

 And this was no action performed to rid herself as 

 soon as possible of a trying burden, for she flew 

 away and quickly returned with fresh stores to be 

 laid up. This bringing provisions to another's larder 

 was repeated as often as I would allow. The other 

 bee, finding, instead of one cell a spacious building 



