274 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Mode of cutting and carrying off leaves. 



conds, as if examining for the leaves best suited 

 to her purpose. When she has chosen one, she 

 alights upon it, sometimes on the under surface, 

 or not unfrequently on its edge, so that the mar- 

 gin passes between her legs. Her first attack, 

 which is generally made the moment she alights, 

 is usually near the footstalk, with her head turned 

 towards the point. As soon as she begins to cut, 

 she is entirely intent on her labour; nor does she 

 cease till lier work is completed: this is dona 

 with her strong: jaws, with as much expedition 

 as we could exert with a pair of scissars. As she 

 proceeds, she keeps the margin 'of the detached 

 part between her legs, in such a manner that the 

 ection keeps giving wa}^ to her, and does not 

 interrupt her progress. She makes her incision 

 in a curve iine approaching the midrib of the leaf 

 at first; but, when she has reached a certain 

 point, she recedes from this towards the maigin, 

 still cutting in a curve. When she has nearly 

 detached the portion she has been employed 

 upon from the leaf, she balances her little wings 

 for flight, lest its weight should carry her to th 

 ground; and the very moment it parts she flies 

 off with it in triumph, in a bent position between 

 her legs, and perpendicular to her body. 



Ttie larvae of these insects do not differ in ap- 

 pearance from thuse ofr the hive-bees. When 

 arrived at their full size, they spin a coccoon of 

 silk, thick and solid, which they attach to the 

 ides qf their cell. Those produced first arc 



