WILD BEES 55 



she would try to squeeze herself, and failing, would 

 alight near it and walk round and round it. It is 

 no impropriety to say that the instinct which moved 

 her here was essentially a feminine one, for she 

 doubtless associated the small dark opening with 

 the entrance which the females of her species usually 

 choose for their underground nests. Acting on the 

 hint, indeed, I afterwards took the discarded nest 

 before mentioned, and placing it in a small wooden 

 box entirely covered over, in the side of which I 

 had previously cut a small opening, I fixed it in a 

 prominent position and soon had the satisfaction 

 of finding her enter and take permanent possession. 

 She would not, however, be induced to breed, and 

 one morning towards the end of May I found her 

 dead in the nest, although she had a plentiful supply 

 of food within reach. 



During the few months this bee was with me her 

 general relationship both to her surroundings and 

 myself evidenced an individuality which we are not 

 accustomed to associate with the members of the 

 insect family. She certainly regarded me without 

 fear, and I am inclined to think with some degree 

 of favour. I used occasionally to stroke her with the 

 end of a light feather, and she used at times to 

 show her keen enjoyment of this by stretching at 

 her full length during the operation, often putting 

 herself in this position before the feather had 

 touched her. At other times, very curiously, 

 she would not submit to be stroked at all, and 

 seeing me make preparation to do so, and while 

 yet the feather was some inches distant from 

 her, she would throw herself on her back and 

 scratch and bite viciously, although she would 



