Mason-Sees. 



39 



thrown against the wall ; though, upon closer inspection, 

 the cake contained more small stones than usually occur in 

 the mud of the adjacent cart -ruts. We should in fact have 

 passed it by without notice had there not been a circular hole 

 on one side of it, indicating the perforation of some insect. 



Exterior Wall of Mason-Bee's Nest* 



This hole was found to be the orifice of a cell about an inch 

 deep, exactly of the form and size of a lady's thimble, finely 

 polished, and of the colour of plaster-of-paris, but stained in 

 various places with yellow. 



This cell was empty ; but, upon removing the cake of mud, 

 we discovered another cell, separated from the former by a 

 partition about a quarter of an inch thick, and in it a living 

 bee, from which the preceding figure was drawn, and which, 

 as we supposed, had just changed from the pupa to the 

 winged state, in consequence of the uncommon mildness of 



Cells of a Mason-Bee (Anthophora retusa'). One-third the natural size. 



the weather. The one which had occupied the adjacent cell 

 had no doubt already dug its way out of its prison, and 

 would probably fall a victim to the first frost. 



