Bramble-bees and Others 



shutters fastened back against the wall; they 

 hover in the window-recess, come Inside, go 

 to the reeds and give a glance at them, only to 

 set off again and to return soon after. Thus 

 do they learn to know their home, thus do 

 they fix their birth-place in their memory. The 

 village of our childhood is always a cherished 

 spot, never to be effaced from our recollec- 

 tion. The Osmia's life endures for a month; 

 and she acquires a lasting remembrance of her 

 hamlet in a couple of days. 'Twas there that 

 she was born, 'twas there that she loved; 'tis 

 there that she will return. Dukes reminisci- 

 tur Argos} 



At last each has made her choice. The 

 work of construction begins; and my expecta- 

 tions are fulfilled far beyond my wishes. The 

 Osmiae build nests In all the retreats which I 

 have placed at their disposal. The glass 

 tubes, which I cover with a sheet of paper to 

 produce the shade and mystery favourable to 

 concentrated toil, do wonderfully well. All, 

 from first to last, are occupied. The Osmiae 

 quarrel for the possession of these crystal 

 palaces, hitherto unknown to their race. The 



i"Now falling by another's wound, his eyes 

 He casts to heaven, on Argos thinks and dies." 



— Mneid, book x, Dryden's translation. 



70 



