Bramble-bees and Others 



by day, renewed at night and in the morning 

 hours, until completely finished. 



The passages of the Cylindrical Halictus 

 descend to a depth of some eight inches and 

 branch Into secondary corridors, each giving 

 access to a set of cells. These number six 

 or eight to each set and are ranged side by 

 side, parallel with their main axis, which Is 

 almost horizontal. They are oval at the base 

 and contracted at the neck. Their length is 

 nearly twenty millimetres^ and their greatest 

 width eight. ^ They do not consist simply of 

 a cavity in the ground; on the contrary, they 

 have their own walls, so that the group can 

 be taken out in one piece, with a little pre- 

 caution, and removed neatly from the earth 

 in which It is contained. 



The walls are formed of fairly delicate ma- 

 terials, which must have been chosen in the 

 coarse surrounding mass and kneaded with 

 saliva. The Inside Is carefully polished and 

 upholstered with a thin waterproof film. We 

 will cut short these details concerning the cells, 

 which the Zebra Halictus has already shown 

 us In greater perfection, leave the home to It- 



1.78 inch. — Translator's Note. 

 2,312 inch. — Translator's Note. 



433 



