326 THEPHILOSOPHY 



The habitations of Infe£ls are next to be confidered. On this 

 branch of the fubje6t, we fhall firft give feme examples of abodes 

 conftruded by folitary workers, and next of thofe habitations which 

 are executed by aflbciated numbers. < 



In feveral preceding parts of this work, and particularly in the 

 chapter upon Inftind, the reader will fina fome infiances of the fkill' 

 and induftry exhibited by infefls for the convenient lodging and 

 protedion of their young. Thefe it is unneceffary to repeat. We 

 fliall therefore proceed to give fome examples of a different kind. 



There are feveral fpecies of bees diftlngulflied by the appellatioa 

 Qi folitary, becaufe they do not affbciate to carry on any joint ope- 

 rations. Of this kind is the mafon-bee, fo called becaufe it builds & 

 habitation compofed of fand and mortar. The nefts of this bee are 

 fixed to the walls of houfes, and, when finifhed, have the appear- 

 ance of irregular prominences arlfing from dirt or clay accidentally 

 thrown againft a wall or ftone 'by the feet of horfes. Thefe promi- 

 nencies are not fo remarkable as to attrad attention ; but, when the 

 external coat is removed, their ftrudure is difcovered to be truly ad- 

 mirable. The interior part confifts of an aflemblage of different 

 cells, each of which affords a convenient lodgement to a white 

 worm, pretty fimilar to thofe produced by the honey-bee. Here 

 they remain till they have undergone all their metamorphofes. In 

 conflruding this ne(f, which is a work of great labour and dexte- 

 rity, the female is the fole operator. She leceives no affiftance from- 

 the male. The manner in which the female mafon-bees build their: 

 nefts is the moft curious branch of their hiftoryi 



After choofing a part of a wall on which fhe is refolved to fix an; 

 habitation for her future progeny, (he goes in queft of proper ma- 

 terials. The neft to be conftruded muft confift of a fpecies of mor- 



tar,. 



