286 HOUSE, GARDEN, AND FIELD 



improvement in the working implements of the bees, 

 side by side with the growing complexity of their social 

 state. Hairs, which are the only means which a solitary 

 bee can employ to bring loose pollen to its burrow, become 

 supplemented by pollen-combs and pollen-baskets. The 

 mouth-parts become prolonged, so as better to explore 

 the recesses of a flower, more efficient in suction, and 

 more neatly folded when not in use. The rude materials 

 employed for the constructions of solitary bees, such as 

 sand, clay, or chewed leaves, become worked up with 

 resin, vegetable wool, silk and wax, and at last replaced 

 by them. With wax comes the possibility of an archi- 

 tecture economical of material, space and labour even 

 to the theoretical limit. 



Close and long-continued study of insect-communities 

 is not work for young naturalists. It is more profitable 

 for them to start many inquiries, and pursue each to the 

 point at which the difficulties begin to be serious. The 

 delight of pressing some one inquiry farther than it had 

 hitherto been carried is not for them, but the future may 

 have it in store for this or that individual. We should 

 never forget that there may be a Reaumur or a Darwin 

 among our pupils. 



L. A SKELETON LESSON ON FURZE. 



A. DIRECTIONS. 



1. Draw a fresh branch of furze, about 3 in. long, of 

 the natural size. 



2. Make drawings on a larger scale of each distinct 

 component of the same branch. 



3. Cut thin sections of a young branch, and notice 

 (a) the position of the stomates, (b) the arrangement 

 and structure of the vascular bundles. 



4. Examine the flowers, and make illustrative drawings. 



