38 Insect Architecture. 



several days after the burrow is sealed up, the hard wing 

 cases have time to soften. 



Another species of the same genus, Cerceris interrupta, has 

 the curious habit of making its burrow in the hardest ground 

 which it can penetrate, and is generally to be found in well 

 used footpaths. This species also uses weevils for the food 

 of its young, but prefers those small weevils which are classed 

 under the genus Apion, and which are readily known by their 

 pear-shaped bodies and rather elongated heads. There are 

 about seventy species of Apion, so that the Cerceris has plenty 

 of choice.] 



MASON-BEES. 



It would not be easy to find a more simple, and, at the 

 same time, ingenious specimen of insect architecture than the 

 nests of those species of solitary bees which have been justly 

 called mason-bees (MegacJiile, LATREILLE). Reaumur, who 

 was struck by the analogies between the proceedings of 

 insects and human arts, first gave to bees, wasps, and cater- 

 pillars those names which indicate the character of their 

 labours ; and which, though they may be considered a little 

 fanciful, are at least calculated to arrest the attention. The 

 nests of mason-bees are constructed of various materials ; 

 some with sand, some with earth mixed with chalk, and some 

 with a mixture of earthy substances and wood. 



On the north-east wall of Greenwich Park, facing the road, 

 and about four feet from the ground, we discovered (J. E.), 



Mason-Bee (Anfhopliora retusa). Natural size. 



December 10th, 1828, the nest of a mason-bee, formed in the 

 perpendicular line of cement between two bricks. Externally 

 there was an irregular cake of dry mud, precisely as if a 

 handful of wet road-stuff had been taken from a cart-rut and 



