82 STRANGE DWELLINGS. 



Striking one, the four conspicuous spots at once distinguishing 

 it from any other insect. In the middle of the illustration 

 another example of a bee-burrower is given, in order to show 

 the manner in which the insect takes its prey into the nest. 

 The technical name of this species is Ampulex compressa, and 

 its nest is stocked with cockroaches, one of which is being 

 dragged into the hole, wherein it will be shortly eaten by the 

 inhabitant. 



In the illustration on page Z^ are shown the nests of two 

 common species of British Humble Bee. 



Both these species are burrowers, and sometimes make their 

 nests at a considerable depth beneath the surface. The common 

 Humble Bee {Bombus terrestris) generally makes its subter- 

 ranean house in the side of some bank, and the nest is usually 

 found at a depth of a foot or eighteen inches. Sometimes, how- 

 ever, in places where the soil is light and friable, the nest has 

 been found at a very great depth from the surface, so that a 

 perpendicular shaft of five feet in length has been required 

 before the nest could be reached. In all probability the bee 

 has been aided by the burrow of a field mouse, when the gallery 

 has been of such a length. 



The history of the nest is really a curious one. 



At the end of autumn, nearly all the Humble Bees die. The 

 males invariably perish, but one or two of the females survive, 

 and pass the winter in a state of hibernation. They do not 

 select the nest for this purpose, convenient though the locality 

 may seem, but hide themselves away singly in sheltered spots, 

 such as the eaves of thatched barns, hollow trees, haystacks, or 

 old ruins. When the sunbeams of spring gain warmth and 

 strength, the sleepers awaken from their torpor, and immediately 

 search for a spot wherein the new home may be excavated. 



These bees, which are the Methuselahs of their short-lived 

 race, may be seen in any warm spring day, flying about in all 

 directions, prowling over every spare yard of ground, and 

 settling here and there, as if to test the quality of the soil. 

 They are very jealous of observation at this time, and if they 



