XYLOCOPA VIOLACEA. 267 



the ground, where it appears like a small heap of saw- 

 dust. Thus,, we see, she has prepared a long cylinder 

 in the middle of the wood, sheltered from the weather 

 and external injuries, and fit for her purposes. But 

 how is she to divide it into cells ? what materials can 

 she employ for making the floors and ceilings of her 

 miniature apartments ? Why, truly, God ' doth instruct 

 he.' n discretion, and doth teach her !' The saw-dust, 

 just mentioned, is at hand, and this supplies her with 

 all that she wants to make this part of her mansion 

 complete. Beginning at the bottom of the cylinder 

 she deposits an egg, and then lays in a store of pollen, 

 mixed with honey, sufficient for the nutriment of the 

 little animal it is to produce. At the height of seven 

 or eight lines, which is the depth of each cell, she 

 next constructs, of particles of the saw-dust glued 

 together, and also to the sides of the tunnel, what 

 may he called an annular stage or scaffolding. When 

 this is sufficiently hardened, its anterior edge affords 

 a support for a second ring of the same materials, and 

 thus the ceiling is gradually formed of these concentric 

 circles, till there remains only a small orifice in its 

 centre ; and this is also filled up with a circular mass 

 of agglutinated particles of the saw-dust. This par- 

 tition exhibits the appearance of as many concentric 

 circles as the animal has made joinings, and is about 

 the thickness of a French crown-piece ; it serves for 

 the ceiling of the lower, and the floor of the upper 

 apartment. One cell being completed, she proceeds to 

 another, which she furnishes and finishes in the same 

 manner; and so on till she has divided her whole tun- 

 nel into apartments, which are usually about twelve. 



