Bramble-bees and Others 



I have been studying the bramble-dwellers 

 for seven or eight years and I could not say 

 how many strings of cocoons have passed 

 through my hands. During a recent winter, 

 in view particularly of the distribution of the 

 sexes, I collected some forty of this Osmia's 

 nests, transferred their contents into glass 

 tubes and made a careful summary of the 

 sexes. I give some of my results. The figures 

 start in their order from the bottom of 

 the tunnel dug in the bramble and proceed 

 upwards to the orifice. The figure i there- 

 fore denotes the first-born of the series, the 

 oldest in date; the highest figure denotes the 

 last-born. The letter M, placed under the 

 corresponding figure, represents the male and 

 the letter F the female sex. 



12345678 9 10 II 12 13 14 15 

 FFMFMFMMFF F FMFM 



This Is the longest series that I have ever 

 been able to procure. It is also complete, in- 

 asmuch as it comprises the entire laying of the 

 Osmia. My statement requires explaining, 

 otherwise it would seem impossible to know 

 whether a mother whose acts one has not 

 watched, nay more, whom one has never seen, 



94 



