Wonders of Insect Architecture. 



ready to quit the nest. Yet how will they make their 

 escape from their prison-like home, the walls of which 

 are stout and hard as rock, and appear to have no 

 doorway ? Thoughtful mother Mason 'Bee has made 

 provision, however, for the eventful day when the off- 

 spring she is destined never to behold shall have com- 

 pleted their transformations, and stand ready to emerge 

 from the safe retreat upon the construction of which 

 she lavished so much toil and care. When constructing 

 the roof and general wall of the nest, the little Mason 

 Bee left a narrow slit low down near each cell, a kind 

 of door, hidden very carefully by rather soft sand or 

 cement, through which the young perfect bees will be 

 easily able to make their escape, breaking it down, and 

 so making their way into the sunshine of the outer 

 world. 



When seeking for a suitable situation or building 

 site, the little Mason Bee will, should she find one, 

 use the ruins of a last year's nest for the foundations 

 and walls of a new one. These old and more or less 

 ruinous nests, containing vacant cells and the skins of 

 the pupae, very frequently remain attached to the wall 

 or stone upon which they were built ; and the Mason 

 Bee, when exploring for a suitable building site, appears 

 to keep a sharp lookout for them, for if she can dis- 

 cover one it will mean a considerable saying of time 

 and labour. Should she succeed in her search, the 

 little Mason at once enters into possession, and will 

 fiercely contest her rights should another of her species 

 dare venture to claim possession. She enters the ruins, 

 and at once begins a thorough spring cleaning, re- 

 moving the debris of the cocoons and the cast skins 



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