IN THE GARDEN. 



Ar> insect which is much in evidence in 

 the garden during the latter part of the 

 rains, or perhaps we should say that the 

 signs of its work are very noticeable at 

 this period, is the little Leaf-Cutter Bee 

 (Magachile). This little insect decorates 

 the leaves of our roses by scalloping out 

 the edges, small almost circular pieces 

 being cut out by the bee for architec- 

 tural purposes. The prominent and 

 handsome white leaves of the Mussaenda 

 which serve to attract insects to the minute 

 yellow flowers of this shrub are also 

 treated in a similar manner by the leaf- 

 cutter. The insect cannot be said to cause 

 harm since it is rare to find the defolia- 

 tion committed on any one tree heavy ; 

 nor is the work of the little insect-artisan 

 unsightly, since the piece taken out is 

 beautifully circular and symmetrical, no 

 ragged and jagged edge being left to 

 offend the eye, as is almost invari- 

 ably the case when caterpillars are at 

 work. 



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