84 NEST OF THE POPPY BEE. 



height of about half an inch. In this magazine of provisions 

 for her future progeny she lays an egg, and over it, folds 

 down the tapestry of poppy petals from above. The upper 

 part is then filled in with earth."* 



Who bat must admire the skill and ingenuity of this little 

 upholsterer ? But admirable as is her work, and interesting 

 its design, it stands most distinguished from that of various 

 other insect artizans by the singular showiness of the material 

 she selects for conversion to her purpose. What can be her 

 inciting motive to its choice is a question which, until we 

 can exchange identity for a moment with some poppy bee, 

 we can never expect, with certainty, to answer. 



Perhaps the pliability and size of the poppy petal may 

 alone cause her to regard it as best adapted for her intended 

 drapery ; but she sometimes lights, doubtless, on other flower- 

 leaves with the same requisites for her purpose, though never, 

 it would seem, converted to it. 



Perhaps the poppy's brilliant scarlet may please her taste 

 an endowment of which, as displayed in their highly fin- 

 ished and decorated works, the author above quoted considers 

 that insects may not be entirely destitute. It seems, indeed, 

 very likely that, of taste, considered as a perception of the 

 beautiful and the pleasing, insects and other animals may pos- 

 sess a much larger share than man, in his exclusiveness, is 

 accustomed to allow them ; though we alone can boast (and 



* ' Insect Architecture.' 



