373 



frcrn the flowers of the wild-poppy, which she seize* 

 wi'h her legs, and conveys i sto her hole. These little 

 scraps of tapestry, when transported thither, are very 

 much crumbled ; but the tapestry-bee knows how to 

 spread them cut, display them, and affix them to the 

 walls \\ith astonishing ait. 



She applies at least two layers of the petals. She 

 spreads two tapestries on each other. The reason of 

 her furnishing herself with it from the flowers of the 

 wild-poppy, rather than from those of many other plants, 

 is, because in them are united, to a higher degree, all 

 those qualities which are requisite for the use to which 

 the bee designs to put them. ' 



When the pieces which -the bee has cut and trass- 

 ported, are found to be too large for the place they are 

 intended to occupy, she cuts off the superfluous parts of 

 them, and conveys the shreds out of the apartment. 



After h;; tapestry, the bee fills the nest with 



paste, to tLfc height of seven or eight lines: this is all 

 that is necessary for the nourishment of the worm. The 

 lape&try is designed to prevent the mixture of particles 

 of earth wiih *he paste. 



You expect, undoubtedly, that tlie prudent bee should 

 nt-t'fuil to close up effectually the aperture of the nest, 

 in order to hinder the access of those insects into it 

 that are fond of the paste ; this she takes proper care 

 to do : and it is utieriy impossible for you to discover, 

 from the surface of the ground, the spot where the nest 

 \vas, whose construction you have just been contem- 

 plating,- such is the skill employed by the bee in closing 

 it. This little white pebble was at the edge of the 

 hole, or very near it ; it has not changed its place, and 

 indicates to us the part beneath which the nest is we 

 are searching for. It seems then as if we should have 

 nothing IM re to do than to raise up a light layer of 

 earth, in order to- expose to view the entrance of the 

 hole, whirh hay been so well closed. Nothing can be 

 easier or less doubtful. How great is your surprise ! 

 you have already taken up two or three inches of the 

 earth in depth, and you cannot find the least appear- 



