Bramble-bees and Others 



vllions. 'Twould be a callous heart indeed 

 that could resist the magic of this awakening. 



The insect nation is represented at these 

 rites by a few of its more zealous members. 

 There is first of all the Honey-bee, the sworn 

 enemy of strikes, who profits by the least lull 

 of winter to find out if some rosemary is not 

 beginning to open somewhere near the hive. 

 The droning of the busy swarm fills the flow- 

 ery vault, while a snow of petals falls softly 

 to the foot of the tree. 



Together with the population of harvest- 

 ers there mingles another, less numerous, of 

 mere drinkers, whose nesting-time has not yet 

 begun. This is the colony of the Osmise, with 

 their copper-coloured skin and bright-red 

 fleece. Two species have come hurrying up to 

 take part in the joys of the almond-tree: first, 

 the Horned Osmia, clad in black velvet on the 

 head and breast and in red velvet on the ab- 

 domen; and, a little later, the Three-horned 

 Osmia, whose livery must be red and red only. 

 These are the first delegates dispatched by the 

 pollen-gleaners to ascertain the state of the 

 season and attend the festival of the early 

 blooms. 'Tis but a moment since they burst 

 their cocoon, the winter abode ; they have left 



52 



