Bramble-bees and Others 



the scene at almost the same moment. The 

 passage is too narrow for two, especially when 

 they have to avoid any untimely contact that 

 would make the floury burden fall to the 

 floor. The nearest to the opening enters 

 quickly. The others, drawn up on the thresh- 

 old in the order of their arrival, respectful 

 of one another's rights, await their turn. As 

 soon as the first disappears, the second follows 

 after her and is herself swiftly followed by 

 the third and then the others, one by one. 



Sometimes, again, there is a meeting be- 

 tween a Bee about to come out and a Bee 

 about to go In. Then the latter draws back 

 a little and makes way for the former. The 

 politeness is reciprocal. I see some who, when 

 on the point of emerging from the pit, go 

 down again and leave the passage free for the 

 one who has just arrived. Thanks to this 

 mutual spirit of accommodation, the business 

 of the house proceeds without impediment. 



Let us keep our eyes open. There is some- 

 thing better than the well-preserved order of 

 the entrances. When an Halictus appears, re- 

 turning from her round of the flowers, we see 

 a sort of trap-door, which closed the house, 

 suddenly fall and give a free passage. As 



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