Bramble-bees and Others 



us. At the risk of repeating myself a little, 

 I will relate what I observed during my first 

 investigations. The Cylindrical Halictus 

 worlds in May. Except among the social 

 species, such as Common Wasps, Bumble- 

 bees, Ants and Hive-bees, it is the rule for 

 each insect that victuals its nests either with 

 honey or game to work by itself at construct- 

 ing the home of its grubs. Among insects of 

 the same species there is often neighbourship ; 

 but their labours are individual and not the 

 result of cooperation. The Cricket-hunters, 

 for instance, the Yellow-winged Sphex-wasps, 

 settle in gangs at the foot of a sand-stone cliff, 

 but each digs her own burrow and would not 

 suffer a neighbour to come and help in pier- 

 cing the home. 



In the case of the Anthophorae, an innumer- 

 able swarm takes possession of a sun-scorched 

 crag, each Bee digging her own gallery and 

 jealously excluding any of her fellows who 

 might venture to come to the entrance of her 

 hole. The Three-pronged Osmia, when bor- 

 ing the bramble-stalk tunnel in which her cells 

 are to be stacked, gives a warm reception to 

 any Osmia that dares set foot upon her pro- 

 perty. 



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