Bramble-bees and Others 



when the latter Is building; in fact, we shall 

 soon see the terrible dangers to which that 

 same proximity exposes her dilatory rival In 

 resin-work, Anthidiutn heUicosum. 



The shell adopted in the great majority of 

 cases is that of the Common Snail, Helix 

 aspersa. It Is sometimes of full size, some- 

 times half-developed. Helix nemoraUs and 

 Helix caspitum, which are much smaller, also 

 supply suitable lodgings; and this would as 

 surely apply to any shell of sufficient capacity, 

 if the places which I explore possessed others, 

 as witness a nest which my son Emile has sent 

 me from somewhere near Marseilles. This 

 time, the Resln-bee Is settled in Helix algira, 

 the most remarkable of our land-shells be- 

 cause of the width and regularity of Its spiral, 

 which Is copied from that of the Ammonites. 

 This magnificent nest, a perfect specimen of 

 both the Mollusc's work and the Bee's, de- 

 serves description before any other. 



For a distance of three centimetres^ from 

 the mouth, the last spiral whorl contains 

 nothing. At this inconsiderable depth, a par- 

 tition is clearly seen. The moderate diameter 

 of the passage accounts for the Anthldium's 



^1.17 inches. — Translator's Note. 



308 



