UPHOLSTERER-BEES. 57 



that the outward shew of her labours will attract no 

 plunderer. 



The poppy-bee may be known by its being rather 

 more than a third of an inch long, of a black colour, 

 studded on the head and back with reddish grey 

 hairs; the belly being grey and silky, and the rings 

 margined with grey above, the second and third 

 having an impressed transversal line. 



A species of solitary bee (Anthidium manicatum, 

 Fabricius), by no means uncommon with us, forms 

 a nest of a peculiarly interesting structure. Kirby and 

 Spense say, that it does not excavate holes, but makes 

 choice of the cavities of old trees, key-holes, and si- 

 milar localities; yet it is highly probable, we think, 

 that it may sometimes scoop out a suitable cavity 

 when it cannot find one; for its mandibles seem 

 equally capable of this, with those of any of the car- 

 penter or mason bees. 



Be this as it may, the bee in question having se- 

 lected a place suitably sheltered from the weather, 

 and from the intrusion of depredators, proceeds to 

 form her nest, the exterior walls of which she forms 

 of the wool of pubescent plants, such as rose-cam- 

 pion {Lychnis coronaria), the quince [Pyrus cydo- 

 nia), cats-ears {Stachys lanata), kc. " It is very 

 pleasant," says Mr White of Selborne, " to see with 

 what address this insect strips oif the down, running 

 from the top to the bottom of the branch, and shaving 

 it bare with all the dexterity of a hoop shaver. When 

 it has got a vast bundle, almost as large as itself, it 

 flies away, holding it secure between its chin and its 

 fore-legs."* 



The manner in which the cells of the nest are 



*Naturalist's Calender, p. 109. 



