THE DOWN BEE. 281 



Description. 



filled with paste and inclosed the first cell, a con- 

 siderable time is requisite to collect provisions', 

 and to forfn partitions for every successive and 

 superior cell. The former, therefore, must be 

 transformed into nymphs and flies before the lat- 

 ter. These circumstances would almost appear 

 to be foreseen by the common mother; for, if 

 the undermost worm, which is the oldest, and 

 soonest transformed^ was to force its way up- 

 ward, which it could easily do, it would not only 

 disturb, but infallibly destroy all those lodged in 

 the superior cells. But nature has wisely pre- 

 vented this devastation; for the head of the 

 nymph, and consequently of the fly, is always 

 placed in a downward direction. Its first in- 

 stinctive movements must therefore be in the 

 same direction. That the young flies may escape 

 from their respective cells, the mother digs a 

 hole at the bottom of the long tube, which makes 

 a communication between the undermost cell 

 and the open air. Sometimes a similar passage 

 is made near the middle of the tube. By this 

 contrivance, as all the flies instinctively endea- 

 vour to cut their way downwards, they find an 

 easy and convenient passage ; for they have only 

 to pierce the floor of their cells to make their 

 escape, and this they easily do with their teeth. 



The down bee is from half an inch to three 

 quarters in length, of a dark colour, and hairy. 

 On each side of the abdomen are several yellow 

 spots. It is very common about gardens in ot 



VOL. vi. NO. 45. 2 N 



