LEAF-CUTTER BEE. 85 



with, no great reason) of that taste of Protean character, 

 more properly termed fancy. 



Her nights of oddity, and whim, and extravagance, and 

 folly how wofully would they disturb the harmony and 

 beauty, the aptness and simplicity, which pervade and give a 

 divine impress to every instinct-guided fabrication ! 



To return, for a moment, from our own slight digression to 

 the poppy bee, we have only to remark, that, if " pride of the 

 eye " be consulted at all in her proceedings, it must be that of 

 her own eye only not that of her offspring's, which, when 

 opened on the darkness of its earth-roofed chamber, can 

 hardly be cognizant of the splendour (even if unsullied) of 

 its scarlet hangings. By other senses than that of sight it is 

 directed, doubtless, to the surrounding honeyed store mater- 

 nally provided for its use. 



Another industrious member of the " upholsterer " craft, 

 and one which, as a common native of England, may be more 

 easily observed in carrying on her business, is another little 

 bee called the Eose Leaf-cutter. 



From June to August, there are often to be found on rose- 

 trees certain leaves out of which have been cut one or more 

 pieces of circular or oval form, and that with as much smooth- 

 ness and regularity as if with a pair of scissors.* These ex- 

 cisions are, in fact, evidences indubitable that the scissor-like 

 jaws of the bee sempstress have been busily at work, and, by 



* See Vignette. 



