98 INSECT ARTIZANS AND THEIR WORK 



was so accurate and complete that little has been 

 added to it by later investigators. These insects 

 are the largest known bees, and are of portly build, 

 much like a large Humble Bee. They are of dark 

 violet or black colour — though some species have 

 yellow males, but the males do not count so far 

 as the subjects of this book are concerned. 



The female, having passed the winter in some 

 snug corner, awakens to the important duties of 

 life in the spring, and looks out for some post or 

 pole that will serve her purpose ; for she does 

 not touch living wood. As a proper carpenter she 

 sees that her material is well " seasoned." In the 

 scheme of nature, which does not take account of 

 man's acquired whims which have developed into 

 necessities, all dead {i.e. not growing) timber has 

 got to be cleared away as speedily as may be ; and 

 8o a number of creatures devote part of their lives 

 to this laudable object of clearing away used-up 

 material and making it available for fresh uses. 

 This they do either by eating it entirely as the 

 Termites do, or by piercing it with holes and 

 tunnels to admit air and moisture which soften 

 the interior and make it available for workers with 

 less-powerful jaws. 



It is, of course, annoying to man to find that his 

 fence and gateposts, his garden stakes, and even 

 the rafters and floors of his house, are regarded as 

 so much of nature's waste which must be broken 

 up and scattered. If he wishes it to be respected 

 as his private property let him put his mark upon 



