Bramble-bees and Others 



thidium septemdentatum, Latr., and J. 

 bellicosu77iy Lep., adopt as the home of their 

 offspring the empty shells of different snails: 

 Helix aspersa, H. algira, H. nemoialis, H. 

 caspitiim. The first-named, the Common 

 Snail, is the most often used, under the stone- 

 heaps and in the crevices of old walls. Both 

 Anthidia colonize only the second whorl of 

 the spiral. The central part is too small and 

 is unoccupied. Even so with the front whorl, 

 the largest, which is left completely empty, 

 so much so that, on looking through the open- 

 ing, it is impossible to tell whether the shell 

 does or does not contain the Bee's nest. We 

 have to break this last whorl if we would per- 

 ceive the curious nest tucked away in the 

 spiral. 



We then find first a transversal partition, 

 formed of tiny bits of gravel cemented by a 

 putty made from resin, which is collected 

 in fresh drops from the oxycedrus and the 

 Aleppo pine. Beyond this is a stout barricade 

 made up of rubbish of all kinds: bits of 

 gravel, scraps of earth, juniper-needles, the 

 catkins of the conifers, small shells, dried 

 excretions of Snails. Next come a partition of 

 pure resin, a large cocoon in a roomy cham- 



iso 



