THE MASON BEE, *2 -> 



constructing a nest of mud or mortar. This, on its 

 exterior, has so little of a regular appearance, that 

 it is generally regarded as a piece of dirt acciden- 

 tally adhering to a wall. Within, however, it is 

 furnished with regular cells, each of which affords 

 convenient lodgement to a white larva much resem- 

 bling that of the Hive-bee. In constructing this 

 nest, which is a work of great labour and art, the 

 female is the sole operator, receiving no assistance 

 whatever from the male. 



After fixing upon an angle, sheltered by any pro- 

 jection, on the south side of a stone wall, or upon 

 some rough. part of its surface, she goes in quest of 

 the necessary materials. Her nest is to be con- 

 structed of a kind of mortar, of which sand is to be 

 the basis. She is very curious in her choice of this, 

 selecting it with her jaws grain by grain. To 

 shorten her labour, before she transports it for use, 

 she glues together, by means of a viscid saliva from 

 her body, as many grains as she can carry : these 

 form a little mass, about the size of a small shot. 

 Taking this up in her jaws, she convevs it to the 

 place she has fixed upon for the site of her house. 

 She labours incessantly till her whole work is com- 

 pleted, which usually occupies five or six days. The 

 number of cells in one nest are from three to fif- 

 teen : these are all similar, and nearly equal in di- 

 mensions, each being about an inch high, half an 

 inch in diameter; and, before its orifice is closed, 

 resembling a thimble in shape. When a cell is 

 raised to somewhat more than half its height, our 

 little mason lays up in it a store of pollen, seasoned 



