Bramble-bees and Others 



the females, are already gone. I therefore 

 go to work a long time beforehand and de- 

 vote my spare time In winter to these investi- 

 gations. 



The bramble-sticks are split and the co- 

 coons taken out one by one and methodically 

 transferred to glass tubes, of approximately 

 the same diameter as the native cylinder. 

 These cocoons are arranged one on top of 

 the other in exactly the same order that they 

 occupied in the bramble; they are separated 

 from one another by a cotton plug, an Insu- 

 perable obstacle to the future insect. There 

 is thus no fear that the contents of the cells 

 may become mixed or transposed; and I am 

 saved the trouble of keeping a laborious 

 watch. Each insect can hatch at Its own time, 

 in my presence or not: I am sure of always 

 finding it in its place. In Its proper order, held 

 fast fore and aft by the cotton barrier. A 

 cork or sorghum-pith partition would not ful- 

 fil the same purpose : the insect would perfor- 

 ate it and the register of births would be 

 muddled by changes of position. Any reader 

 wishing to undertake similar investigations 

 will excuse these practical details, which may 

 facilitate his work. 



9Z 



