THE BEE. 



the middle of which, as the most skilful workman would do in a 

 like case, she places over the margins of those that form the first 

 side, thus covering and strengthening the junctions by the expe- 

 dient which mechanics call a break-joint. Continuing the same 

 process she gives a fourth and sometimes a fifth coating to her 

 nest, taking care at the closed end or narrow extremity of the 

 cell, to bend the leaves so as to form a convex termination. 



After thus completing each cell, she proceeds to fill it to within 

 the twentieth of an inch of the orifice with a rose-coloured sweet- 

 meat made of the polle* collected from thistle blossoms mixed 

 with honey. Upon this she lays her egg, and then closes the 

 orifice with three pieces of leaf, one placed upon the other, con- 

 centrical and also so exactly circular in form, that no compasses 

 could describe that geometrical figure with more precision. In 

 their magnitude also they correspond with the walls of the cell with 

 such a degree of precision, that they are retained in their situation 

 merely by the nicety of their adaptation. 



The covering of the cell thus adapted to it being concave, 

 corresponds exactly with the convex end of the cell which is to 

 succeed it, and in this manner the little insect prosecutes her 

 maternal labours, until she has constructed all the cells, six or 

 seven in number, necessary to fill the cylindrical hole. 



53. The process which one of these bees employs in cutting the 

 pieces of leaf that compose her nest, is worthy of attention. 

 Nothing can be more expeditious, and she is not longer about it 

 than one would be in cutting similar pieces with a pair of scissors. 

 After hovering for some moments over a rose-bush, as it were to 

 reconnoitre the ground, the bee alights upon the leaf which she 

 has selected, usually taking her station upon its edge, so that its 

 margin shall pass between her legs. She then cuts with her 

 mandibles, without intermission, in such a direction as to detach 

 from the leaf a triangular piece. When this hangs by the last 

 fibre, lest its weight should carry her to the ground, she spreads 

 her little wings for flight, and the very moment the connection of 

 the part thus cut off with the leaf is broken, she carries it off in 

 triumph to her nest, the detached portion remaining bent between 

 her legs in a direction perpendicular to her body. Thus, without 

 rule or compass, do these little creatures measure out the material 

 of their work into ovals, or circles, or other pieces of suitable 

 shapes, accurately accommodating the dimensions of the several 

 pieces of these figures to each other. What other architect could 

 carry impressed upon the tablet of his memory such details of the 

 edifice which he has to erect, and destitute of square or plumb- 

 line, cut out his materials in their exact dimensions without 

 making a single mistake or requiring a single subsequent correc- 

 24 



