THE LEAF-CUTTING BEE. 



79 



This is said to be generally formed under the sur- 

 face of the ground* in a fistular passage, which it 

 entirely fills except at the entrance. If, by any 

 accident, the labour of these insects is interrupted, 

 or the edifice is deranged, they exhibit astonishing 

 perseverance in setting it again to rights. 



Their mode of cutting pieces out of the leaves, 

 for their work, deserves particular notice. When 

 one of these Bees selects a rose-bush with this view, 

 she flies round, or hovers over it for some seconds, 

 as if examining for the leaves best suited to her 

 purpose. When she has chosen one, she alights 

 upon it, sometimes on the upper, and sometimes 

 on the under surface, or not unfrequently on its 

 edge, so that the margin passes between her legs. 

 Her first attack, which is generally made the mo- 

 ment she alights, is usually near the footstalk, with 

 her head turned towards the point. As soon as she 

 begins to cut, she is entirely intent on her labour ; 

 nor does she cease till her work is completed : this 

 is done with her strong jaws, with as much expedi- 

 dition as we could exert with a pair of scissars. 

 As she proceeds, she keeps the margin of the de- 

 tached part between her legs, in such a manner that 

 the section keeps giving way to her, and does not 

 interrupt her progress. She makes her incision in 

 a curve line approaching the midrib of the leaf at 

 first ; but, when she has reached a certain point, 

 she recedes from this towards the margin, still cut- 



* Ii» cavities of walls and in decayed wood. Kirby. 



