Bramble-Dwellers 



the upper end of the little barrel, a partition 

 is built with the scrapings obtained in the 

 course of the final work on the third cell, 

 which cell itself is shaped like a flattened 

 ovoid. 



And so the work goes on, cell upon cell, 

 each supplying the materials for the partition 

 separating it from the one below. On reaching 

 the end of the cylinder, the Osmia closes up 

 the case with a thick layer of the same mortar. 

 Then that bramble-stump is done with; the 

 Bee will not return to it. If her ovaries are 

 not yet exhausted, other dry stems will be ex- 

 ploited in the same fashion. 



The number of cells varies greatly, accord- 

 ing to the qualities of the stalk. If the bram- 

 ble-stump be long, regular and smooth, we 

 may count as many as fifteen : that, at least, 

 is the highest figure which my observations 

 have supplied. To obtain a good idea of the 

 internal distribution, we must split the stalk 

 lengthwise, in the winter, when the provisions 

 have long been consumed and when the larvae 

 are wrapped in their cocoons. We then see 

 that, at regular intervals, the case becomes 

 slightly narrower; and in each of the necks 

 thus formed a circular disk is fixed, a partition 



8 



