400 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [Nov., '13 



in the usual way,' but soon perceiving that something was 

 wrong, she flew around nervously in the box, then ran around 

 on the bottom for a few seconds, and finally flew up to the 

 nest, but she did not remain long there but flew in and out the 

 box many times, each time alighting on the nest, always ex- 

 amining its bottom (in its former position the openings were 

 at the bottom ; now they were at the top) . It seemed that she 

 could not conceive of how the bottom had become sealed dur- 

 ing her absence. This examination of the bottom she repeated 

 eleven times. Then once more she flew to the nest and the 

 hum which means work could be heard. She had at last found 

 the opening of the unfinished cell and was now disposing of 

 the pellet which she had carried during all this confusion. 

 Upon leaving the nest this time the insect made a flight of 

 orientation ; on returning it flew in from the window to the 

 floor, walked direct to the box, and then in uncertain lines to 

 the nest, disposed of its pellet and this time left without a flight 

 of orientation. 



Again I moved the box to a position at right angles to the 

 rays of light, instead of diagonal as heretofore, and so that the 

 part marked bottom in Figure 1 was now the top. This made 

 the position of the nest as shown in Figure 3. The insect re- 

 turned, but this time it flew from the floor into the box in its 

 new position, making three circles, each one smaller than the. 

 last, and then walked straight to the nest. Here she exhibited 

 much confusion seeking for the spot on the unfinished cell 

 where the pellet which she carried ought to be placed. Soon 

 she left the nest in apparent anxiety or disgust and for fully 

 two minutes she walked hither and thither about the box and 

 then soared straight out the window. It was observed that 

 when she departed she did not carry out the mud pellet, and 

 an examination of the cell revealed a new layer of mud. I had 

 not been keen enough to catch her at her nimble work. Aftei 

 one-half minute she returned with another pellet, this time 

 making a bee line from the window to the nest as though she 

 were fully accustomed to coming to the nest in this position. 

 The next morning I found this cell completed but not sealed. 



