33^ 



THE PHILOSOPHY 



venient lodgings, but lays up for them ftores of provifions fufficiens 

 to fupport them till their final metamorphofis into flies, when the 

 new females perform the fame almoft incredible operations for the 

 protedion and fuftenance of their own offspring. When the young 

 worm is hatched, it has fcarcely fufRcient fpace to turn itfelf in the 

 cell, which is almoft entirely filled with the pappy fubftance for- 

 merly mentioned. But, as this fubftance is gradually devoured by 

 the worm, the fpace in the cell neceflarily enlarges in proportion to 

 the growth and magnitude of the animal. 



We are informed by M. de Reaumur *, that M. Pilot furnifhed 

 him with a piece of wood, not exceeding an inch and a half in dia- 

 meter, which contained the cells of a wood-piercing bee. He cut 

 off as much of the wood as was fuflBcient to expofe two of the cells 

 to view, in each of which was a worm. The aperture he had made, 

 to prevent the injuries of the air, he clofed, by pafting on it a bit of 

 glafs. The cells were then almoft entirely filled with pafte. The 

 two worms were exceedingly fmall, and, of courfe, occupied but 

 little fpace between the walls of the cells and the mafs of pafte. As 

 the animals increafed in fize, the pafte daily diminifhed. He began 

 to obferve them on the 12th day of June j and, on the 27th of the 

 fame month, the pafte in each cell was nearly confumed, and the 

 worm, folded in two, occupied the greater part of its habitation. 

 On the 2d of July, the provifions of both worms were entirely ex- 

 haufted ; and, befide the worms themfelves, there remained in the 

 cells only a few fmall, black, oblong grains of excrement. The five 

 or fix following days they fafted, which feemed to be a neceflary 

 abftinence, during which they were greatly agitated. They often 

 bended their bodies, and elevated and deprefled their heads. Thefe 

 movements were preparatory to the great change the animals were 



about 



* Tom. II. pag. 58. i2mo edit.. 



