The Osmiae 



seen and plainly seen all that I am relating; 

 but measuring has nothing to do with the 

 case. And I can prove it by facts. 



If, in order to see the Osmia's nest as a 

 whole, we split a reed lengthwise, taking care 

 not to disturb its contents; or, better still, if 

 we select for examination the string of cells 

 built in a glass tube, we are struck straightway 

 by one detail, namely the uneven distances 

 between the partitions, which are placed al- 

 most at right angles to the axis of the cylin- 

 der. It is these distances which fix the size 

 of the chambers, which, with a similar base, 

 have different heights and consequently un- 

 equal holding-capacities. The bottom parti- 

 tions, the oldest, are farther apart; those of 

 the front part, near the orifice, are closer to- 

 gether. Moreover, the provisions are plenti- 

 ful in the loftier cells, whereas they are nig- 

 gardly and reduced to one-half or even one- 

 third In the cells of lesser height. 



Here are a few examples of these Inequali- 

 ties. A glass tube with a diameter of 12 

 millimetres,' inside measurement, contains 

 ten cells. The five lower ones, beginning with 



'.468 inch. — Translator's Note. 



79 



