popular SEh'cturnarp 0f &m'mate& feature. 413 



numbers are every year exported by the 

 fur traders. 



MARTIN. [See SWALLOW.] 



MASON-BEE. A species of the genus 



given by Messrs. Kirby and Spence in their 

 " Introduction to Entomology," that we take 

 the liberty of extracting it. " This insect 

 (0. murarius) bores a cylindrical cavity from 

 _________ ____ __ _ r _____ _ - - two to three incnes deep, in hard sand which 



Osmia, remarkable for constructing its nest j its mandibles alone would be scarcely ca- 

 of agglutinated sand, fixing it on the sides ! pable of penetrating, were it not provided 

 of walls, &c., or availing itself of some cavity [ with a slightly glutinous liquor which it 

 or suitable projection for that purpose. This I pours out of its mouth, that, like the vinegar 

 species constructs six or eight cells near each I with which Hannibal softened the Alps, 

 other, though irregularly placed ; and the | acts upon the cement of the sand, and ren- 

 female, having deposited an egg, with a 1 ders the se 



paration of the grains easy to the 

 kaxe with which our little pioneer 



supply of honey and pollen in each, covers double pic 



the whole and fills the spaces between the is furnished. But the most remarkable cir- 

 cells with the same kind of material she had i cumstance is the mode in which it disposes 

 used in constructing them ; the whole having i of the excavated materials. Instead of 

 the appearance of a dab of mud, which might j throwing them at random on a heap, it 

 have been placed there by accident. This carefully forms them into little oblong pel- 

 viscid mud, or mortar, which is at first soft, lets, and arranges them round the entramie 



soon becomes as hard as stone ; and the 

 eggs being laid in it, undergo the same 

 metamorphosis as those of the common bees. 

 Several species select the deserted shells of 



of the hole so as to form a tunnel, which, 

 when the excavation is completed, is often 

 not less than two or three inches in length. 

 For the greater part of its height this tunnel 



snails, in the spiral tubes of which they I is upright, but towards the top it bends into 

 construct their nests. The bee having found a curve ; always, however, retaining its cy- 

 a shell suitable to her purpose, deposits an lindrical form. The little masses are so 

 egg, together with a suitable supply of pollen attached to each other in this cylinder as to 

 and honey, at the extremity of the tube ; I leave numerous vacuities between them, 

 the space occupied thereby being not quite which give it the appearance of filagree- 

 half an inch in length : this space she closes | work. You will readily divine that the 

 by a thin partition, which is composed of excavated hole is intended for the reception 

 abraded leaves or moss, repeating the ope- of an egg, but for what purpose the external 

 ration until she has constructed the required tunnel is meant is not so apparent. One use, 

 number of shells ; she next closes up the and perhaps the most important, would seem 

 entrance to the tube, for which purpose she I to be to prevent the incursions of the artful 

 collects pellets of earth, small pieces of stick, Ichneumons, Chrysidae, &c., which are ever 

 pebbles, &c., which, being mixed with some j on the watch to insinuate their parasitic 

 liquid secreted by the animal, form a secure young into the nests of other insects : it 

 protection to her works. The larva having may render their access to the nest more 

 consumed the store laid up by the provident | difficult ; they may dread to enter into so 

 parent, spins a cocoon of a toughish texture [ long and dark a defile. I have seen, how- 

 and of a dark brown colour ; and in due 

 time the perfect insect makes its appearance. 

 The genus Osmia contains many species, 

 each having a favourite locality for its nest- 

 building operations, but all of them varying 

 their economy in accordance with accidental 

 circumstances. Some of these bees are red, 

 and others black ; but they are all nearly of 

 the same size, being about the length of 

 drones, though not so thick. The black 

 Mason-bees have stings ; but the red, being 

 males, have none. 



MASON-WASP. 



(Odynerus murarius, 



ever, more than once a Chrysis come out of 

 these tunnels. That its use is only tempo- 

 rary is plain from the circumstance that 

 the insect employs the whole fabric, when 



is laid and store of fruit procured, 

 g up the remaining vacuity of the 



in fiflfn^ 



hole ; taking down the pellets, which are 

 very conveniently at hand, and placing them 

 in it until the entrance is filled." Speaking 

 of the care which Mason-wasps take for their 

 young, the same authors say : " One species 

 not only incloses a living caterpillar along 

 with its eggs in the cell, which it carefully 

 closes, but at the expiration of a few days, 



pametinus, #c.) Hymenppterous insects, I when the b has appearcd and 



whose nests may be found in this country | consumed its provision, re-opens the n 



in most sandy banks exposed to the sun, 



and who received the name from the in- 

 genuity with which they construct their ha- 



e-opens the nest, 

 incloses a second caterpillar, and again shuts 

 the mouth: and this operation it repeats 

 until the young one has attained its full 

 growth." 



MASTIFF. (Canis moloesus.-) This 

 noble and powerful variety of the Canine 

 race is distinguished by a large head and 

 broad muzzle, very thick pendulous lips, 

 moderate sized dependent ears, heavy brow, 

 a strong and well-proportioned body, and 

 the tail rather full. Like most of the larger 

 kinds of dogs, although extremely vigilant 

 over any thing committed to his charge, 

 he will not abuse the power with which he I 



tation. An account of this is so pleasingly j intrusted, nor call it into action unless pro- 



