Bramble-bees and Others 



of earth removed from the wayside banks in- 

 habited by the Anthophora and sent to me 

 from Carpentras by my dear friend and pupil 

 Henri Devillario. I examined them conscien- 

 tiously in the quiet of my study. I found the 

 Osmia's cocoons arranged in short series, in 

 very irregular passages, the original work 

 of which is due to the Anthophora. Touched 

 up afterwards, made larger or smaller, 

 lengthened or shortened, intersected with a 

 network of crossings by the numerous gene- 

 rations that had succeeded one another In 

 the same city, they formed an Inextricable 

 labyrinth. 



Sometimes these corridors did not com- 

 municate with any adjoining apartment; some- 

 times they gave access to the spacious cham- 

 ber of the Anthophora, which could be re- 

 cognized. In spite of its age, by its oval shape 

 and Its coating of glazed stucco. In the lat- 

 ter case, the bottom cell, which once consti- 

 tuted, by Itself, the chamber of the Antho- 

 phora, was always occupied by a female 

 Osmia. Beyond It, In the narrow corridor, 

 a male was lodged, not seldom two, or even 

 three. Of course, clay partitions, the work of 

 the Osmia, separated the different Inhabitants, 



142 



