238 



NA T URA L HIS TOR Y. 



tion which they may not occupy, and with each variation in condition, the 

 mode of procedure also varies. 



Even more interesting are the leaf-cutting or upholsterer bees, which 

 are well shown in our cut, At the left are shown the male and female, 

 considerably enlarged, while in the lower centre a bee is represented in the 

 act which has gained for these forms the first-mentioned common name. 

 Seated on a leaf, it quickly cuts out a bit with its sharp jaws, the piece 

 varying in size and shape according to the position it is to occupy in the 

 cell. Other leaves show the places from which bits have been cut. With 



Fig. 227. — Male and female of the leaf-cutter bee (Merjachile), with examples of their work. 



these pieces of leaf she lines her cells, which may be excavated in the earth 

 or even in solid wood, as shown at the right of the cut. The bottom of 

 each cell is formed of a circular patch, while the sides are 'upholstered' 

 with larger oblong pieces. In each cell an egg is laid, and a quantity of 

 ft m >d for the larva is placed beside it. 



The carpenter-bees have much the same habits as the mason and leaf- 

 cutting bees in boring into timber, but they do not use leaves or mud in 

 making their cells. Instead they employ the chips and sawdust produced 

 in the excavation. Their holes first go inwards across the grain to the 

 depth of half an inch or more, and then turn to follow the grain of the 

 wood for a foot or even eighteen inches. When we consider the hardness 

 of the timber and the comparatively insignificant means which they have 

 for digging their holes, it is seen that they make pretty good progress, for 



