Bramble-bees and Others 



the door, the lawful occupant does not move 

 from her post, does not withdraw into the 

 passage, as she would before an Halictus re- 

 turning from the fields. Far from making 

 way, she threatens the intruder with her feet 

 and mandibles. The other retaliates and tries 

 to force her way in notwithstanding. Blows 

 are exchanged. The fray ends by the defeat 

 of the stranger, who goes off to pick a quarrel 

 elsewhere. 



These little scenes afford us a glimpse of 

 certain details of the highest interest in the 

 habits of the Zebra Halictus. The mother 

 who builds her nest in the spring no longer 

 leaves her home, once her works are finished. 

 Shut up at the bottom of the burrow, busied 

 with the thousand cares of housekeeping, or 

 else drowsing, she waits for her daughters to 

 come out. When, in the summer heats, the 

 life of the village recommences, having naught 

 to do outside as a harvester, she stands sentry 

 at the entrance to the hall, so as to let none 

 in save the workers of the home, her own 

 daughters. She wards off evilly-disposed visit- 

 ors. None can enter without the door-keep- 

 er's consent. 



There is nothing to tell us that the watcher 



408 



