The Halicti : a Parasite 



What happens at the bottom of the pit must 

 be the same thing that happens in the case of 

 the other Wild Bees. The harvester enters 

 a cell backwards; she first brushes herself and 

 drops her load of pollen; then, turning round, 

 she disgorges the honey in her crop upon the 

 floury mass. This done, the unwearied one 

 leaves the burrow and flies away, back to the 

 flowers. After many journeys, the stack of 

 provisions in the cell is sufficient. This is the 

 moment to bake the cake. 



The mother kneads her flour, mingles it 

 sparingly with honey. The mixture is made 

 into a round loaf, the size of a pea. Unlike 

 our own loaves, this one has the crust inside 

 and the crumb outside. The middle part of 

 the roll, the ration which will be consumed 

 last, when the grub has acquired some 

 strength, consists of almost nothing but dry 

 pollen. The Bee keeps the dainties in her 

 crop for the outside of the loaf, whence the 

 feeble grub-worm is to take its first mouth- 

 fuls. Here it is all soft crumb, a delicious 

 sandwich with plenty of honey. The little 

 breakfast-roll is arranged in rings regulated 

 according to the age of the nurseling: first the 

 syrupy outside and at the \-ery end the dry 



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