MASON-BEES. 



4] 



have learnt nothing by experience. But the mode in 

 which thej accomphsh this task varies according to 

 the situations in which they are placed. They appear 

 to have a ghmmering of reason, employed as an 

 accessary and instrument of their instinct. 



The structure, when finished, consisted of a wall of 

 clay supported by two contiguous bricks, enclosing 

 six chambers, within which a mass of pollen, rather 

 larger than a cherry-stone, was deposited, together 

 with an egg, from which in due time a grub was 

 l»atched. Contrary to what has been recorded by pre- 

 ceding naturalists, with respect to other mason-bees, 

 we found the cells in this instance quite parallel and 

 perpendicular^ but it may also be remarked, that the 

 2 ' 3 



Cells of Mason-Bees, built, in the first and second figures, by 

 Osmia bico7-nis between bricks, and in the third, liy Mcgachilt 

 ia in the fluting ot" an old pilaster; about half the natural 



bee itself was a species altogether different from the 

 one which we have described above as the Jlntho- 

 phora retusa, and agreed with the figure of the one 

 we caught quarrying the clay — (Osmia bicornis.) 



There was one circumstance attendmg the pro- 

 ceedings of this mason-bee which struck us not a 

 little, though we could not explain it to oiir own 



vol.. IV. 4* 



