SOLITARY BEES THEIR HABITS AND WORK. 193 



of cells, looking like a number of thimbles thrust into 

 each other. These beautiful nests are not uncommon, 

 but a good specimen is hardly ever seen in a collection, 

 owing to the difficulty of preserving them. It is useless 

 even to attempt to retain the colour, and without the 

 most careful preparation the leaves will become dry, 

 uncurl themselves, and fall asunder. 



On the Continent, but not, I believe, in England, an 

 allied insect uses the petals of the scarlet poppy instead 

 of rose-leaves. 



One British solitary bee, Anthidium manicatum, seems 

 to have been first noticed by Gilbert White, who called 

 it the Hoop-shaver, because it uses its jaws much as a 

 hoop-maker uses his shave. 



It makes its burrow in soft wood, generally the "touch- 

 wood " found in decaying willow-trees. If, however, it 

 can find the deserted tunnel of a goat-moth caterpillar it 

 will make use of it instead of gnawing a burrow for itself. 

 The cells in which its young are reared are made of the 

 down of various plants, the common campion being 

 apparently the favourite. 



Opening its jaws widely, the bee places them against 

 the stem, and, running quickly along it, shaves off the 

 down in a sort of spiral coil which quite covers its head. 

 With this down, mixed with some glutinous substance, it 

 makes the cells for the reception of its young. 



The typical wood-boring bee, however, is not known 

 to inhabit England. Its scientific name is Xylocopa (i.e. 

 wood-cutter) violacea. At first sight it looks very much like 



