PRECAUTIONS OP INSECTS. 53 



outset of his studies; for it is scarcely possible for many 

 broods of insects to be reared without observing it. 



The insidious proceedings of these cuckoo insects, 

 as we may not inappropriately call them, give rise to 

 remarkable displays of ingenuity on the part of the 

 mothers whose progeny is exposed to their felonious 

 designs. It is the usual practice of the solitary bees 

 and wasps to leave the whole task of constructing and 

 provisioning the nest to the female, the male, like an 

 American Indian, taking no part in those domestic 

 concerns. In this case, though she is seldom absent 

 from the spot for more than two or three minutes at a 

 time, some prying Chrysis or Tachina often glides 

 into her domicil, and finds time to deposit its egg 

 and to escape before her return. Other solitary bees 

 exhibit both more civilization and more cunning; for 

 the male assists, at least, in watching and guarding 

 the nest, if he does not lend a hand in its construc- 

 tion. The proceedings of one of these solitary bees 

 (Halictus fulvocinctusy STEPH.), indigenous in the 

 vicinity of London, has frequently fallen under our 

 observation. It constructs a gallery, having on the 

 outside only a single perpendicular passage, but bran- 

 ching out into seven or eight, at the bottom of each 

 of which is placed a globule of pollen kneaded up with 

 honey about the size of a pea, where an egg is depos- 

 ited. Walckeria'er, who observed these insects with 

 great care, remarks, that they only work during the 

 night in making their galleries; and our observations 

 so far agree with his, that though we have observed 

 some dozens of their nests, we never saw them at 

 work in the day. Instead of this, either the male or 

 the female always remains at the entrance of the nest 

 (which its head exactly fills) ready to give no friendly 

 reception to any enemy that may venture to intrude. 

 We have otten seen, indeed, the ruby-tail fly (Chrysis 



VOL. vi. 5* 



