THE BEES WITH POINTED TONGUES 51 



down off the stems of various plants, especially 

 those of the dead nettle or " labiate " tribe, 

 with which it invests its cells. I cannot do 

 better than quote the following from F. Smith : 

 " This is the social bee which White in his History 

 of Selbourne has so well described in the following 

 words : ' There is a sort of wild bee frequenting 

 the Garden Campion for the sake of its tomentum, 

 which probably it turns to some purpose in the 

 business of nidification. It is very pleasant 

 to see with what address it strips off the pubes 

 running from the top to the bottom of a branch 

 and shaving it bare with the dexterity of a hoop 

 shaver ; when it has got a vast bundle, almost 

 as large as itself, it flies away, holding it secure 

 between its chin and fore legs.' ' 



