Bramble-bees and Others 



galleries of the Masked Anthophora suit the 

 Florentine Anthidium, the foremost member 

 of the genus so far as size is concerned. The 

 Diadem Anthidium considers that she has 

 done very well if she inherits the vestibule of 

 the Hairy-footed Anthophora, or even the 

 ordinary burrow of the Earth-worm. Failing 

 anything better, she may establish herself in 

 the dilapidated dome of the Mason-bee of the 

 Pebbles. The Manicate Anthidium shares 

 her tastes. I have surprised the Girdled 

 Anthidium cohabiting with a Bembex: the 

 two occupants of the cave dug in the sand, 

 the owner and the stranger, were living in 

 peace, both intent upon their business; but her 

 usual habitation is some hole or other in the 

 crevices of a ruined wall. To these refuges, 

 the work of others, we can add the stumps 

 of reeds, which are as popular with the vari- 

 ous cotton-gatherers as with the Osmiae; and, 

 after we have mentioned a few most unex- 

 pected retreats, such as the sheath provided 

 by a hollow brick or the labyrinth furnished 

 by the lock of a gate, we shall have almost 

 exhausted the list of domiciles. 



Like the Osmiae and the Leaf-cutters, the 

 Anthidium shows an urgent need of a ready- 



274 



