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THE HARMONIES OP NATUEE. 



Nothing can exceed her care in the preservation of her young. 

 Wherever a nest is situated, fortifications, avenues, and entrench- 

 ments surround it; there are also numerous winding byways 

 which lead to it, and a ditch encompasses the whole, which few 

 insects are capable of passing. But the diligence of these 

 little animals does not end here : at the approach of winter, they 

 move their nests entirely away, and sink them deeper in the 

 ground, to prevent the frost from retarding the progress of their 

 young brood to maturity. When the weather grows milder, they 

 raise their habitations in proportion, till at last they are brought 

 as near the surface as possible without being wholly exposed to 

 view, in order to receive the genial influence of the sun ; but 

 should the frost unexpectedly return, they again sink them to 

 their former depth. 



The Pelopseus or Dirt-dauber constructs earthen cells, arranged 



Nests of the Trypoxylon and Pelopseus. 



side by side, which it sticks on walls and rafters ; and the Try- 

 poxylon figulus makes similar nests, with necks so very narrow 

 in proportion to their size, and the rim so neatly turned over, 

 that the work would do credit to the most skilful potter. 



Several other genera of wasps and bees are remarkable for 

 their clay-built constructions ; but the manner in which the 



