Bramble-bees and Others 



Let us return to the Leaf-cutter's work 

 under normal conditions. Immediately after 

 a protective barrier comes the row of cells, 

 which vary considerably in number, like those 

 of the Osmia in her reed. Strings of about 

 a dozen are rare; the most frequent consist 

 of five or six. No less subject to variation 

 Is the number of pieces joined to make a cell: 

 pieces of two kinds, some, the oval ones, 

 forming the honey-pot; the others, the round 

 ones, serving as a lid. I count, on an average, 

 eight to ten pieces of the first kind. Though 

 all cut on the pattern of an ellipse, they are 

 not equal In dimensions and come under two 

 categories. The larger, outside ones are each 

 of them almost a third of the circumference 

 and overlap one another slightly. Their 

 lower end bends into a concave curve to form 

 the bottom of the bag. Those inside, which 

 are considerably smaller. Increase the thick- 

 ness of the sides and fill up the gaps left by 

 the first. 



The Leaf-cutter therefore is able to use 

 her scissors according to the task before her: 

 first, the large pieces, which help the work 

 forward, but leave empty spaces; next, the 

 small pieces, which fit Into the defective por- 



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