284 APPENDIX BT THE 



The bee referred to by Mr. Knapj>, yage 53, although 

 inhabiting, at times, a wooden cell also, like the true 

 " carpenter," is more generally classed with the " uphol- 

 sterer bees," or those which line their nests with cuttings 

 from leaves, and flowers. This leaf-cutter bee is thus 

 alluded to in " Acheta Domestica : " 



"Having excavated, or found her hole, (a cavity in 

 ground, or wood, or wall, from six to ten inches deep,) she 

 proceeds to construct within it, of the pieces of the leaf 

 she cuts off, several cells, of the shape and about the size 

 of a thimble, which she inserts successively, the bottom 

 of one into the mouth of that below it. It takes from 

 nine to twelve pieces of leaf to complete each cell, and 

 as each is finished she stores it with a rose-colored con- 

 serve made chiefly of pollen and honey, collected from the 

 flowers of the thistle. When to this magazine of sweets 

 is superadded the egg from whence its future consumer is 

 to spring, the provident provider of the store covers in 

 the whole with three more pieces of leaf, cut in a circle, 

 as truly accurate as compasses could describe. Room being 

 left above the cover for the insertion of a succeeding cell, 

 our " upholsterer " thus proceeds till her nursery tunnel 

 is completely filled up." 



* * * " The leaves employed by the leaf-cutter, are 

 materials of somewhat stubborn texture, those sometimes 

 of the mountain-ash, and birch, as well as the rose, herein 

 enhancing the skill of their employer. It would seem, 

 however, that pliability and thinness are qualities some- 

 what regarded, and most wonderfully discerned by the 

 little artist in question ; for we have noticed in more than 

 one summer, the smooth, delicate, tender leaves of a dark 

 variety of China rose, almost scolloped by the circles and 

 ovals of her excision, while the foliage of the " cabbage " 

 close by, has been left untouched, as if too coarse and 

 common for her purpose." Acheta Domestica. 



