V 



UPHOLSTERERS 



There are some insects that exhibit a tendency to 

 luxury. Many there are that finish off their 

 cocoons with a deHcate pohshed silken lining that 

 the pupa shall not be in danger of injury through 

 any roughness in its surroundings ; but the select 

 few to which we now propose to devote a few words 

 rely not upon their own secretions for this purpose, 

 but import hangings from without. We have 

 already referred to the fact that Odynerus lavifes 

 lines her nest in the bramble-stem with a coating 

 of fine sand, but that is plasterer's work, and will 

 not come under the head of upholstery. 



The little solitary bees of the genus Prosopis, 

 however, that excavate their nests in the stems of 

 brambles and other plants, Hne the cells with a 

 fluid from the mouth which hardens into a delicate 

 tissue much like gold-beater's skin, but finer. 

 There is reason for this in the fact that the pro- 

 vision for the food of the future grub is of a more 

 liquid nature than is customary with the solitary 

 bees. This usual food consists of pollen to which 



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