THE BEE. 



parallel, others perpendicular, and otters inclined to the wall at 

 different angles. The whole mass is consolidated by filling up 

 the irregular intersticial spaces between the cells, with the same 

 material as that of which the walls are buUt. After this has 

 been accomplished, the whole is covered up with coarser grains 

 of sand. 



The nest when thus finished resembles a mass of BoUd stone, so 

 hard as to be cut with much difficulty by a knife. Its form is an 

 irregular oblong, and to a casual observer presents the appearance 

 of a mere splash of mud rather than that of a regular structure. 



The insects are sometimes so sparing of their labour, that they 

 avail themselves of old nests when they can find them, and often 

 have desperate combats to seize and retain possession of them. 



48. It might be imagined that nests so solidly constructed would 

 afford perfect protection to the young from its enemies ; such is 

 nevertheless not found to be the case. The ichneumon and the 

 beetle both contrive occasionally to deposit their eggs in the cells, 

 the larvEe of which never fail to devour their inhabitants. 



Different varieties of the masons select different situations and 

 materials for their nests. Some use fine earth, which they make 

 into mortar with gluten. Others mix sandy earth with chalk. 

 Some construct their nests in chalk -pits, others in the cavities ot 

 large stones, whUe others bore holes for them in rotten wood. 

 Wherever placed they endeavour to conceal them, by plastering or 

 covering tbem with some material different from that of which 

 the nest is constructed. Thus one species surrounds its nest with 

 oak-leaves glued to its surface. M. Goureau mentions the case of 

 a bee that employed an entire day, in arranging blades of grass 

 about two inches long, in the form of the top of a tent over the 

 mouth of its nest. A case of this sort was also observed by Mr. 

 Thwaites, who saw a female for a considerable time collecting smaU 

 blades of grass, which she laid over the empty shell of a snail in 

 which she had located her nest. 



. 49. The name of upholsterers has been given by Kirby to certain 

 species of bees, who, having excavated their nest in the earth, 

 hang its walls with a splendid coating of flowers and leaves. One 

 of the most interesting of these varieties is the megachile 

 papaveris, which has been described by Eeaumur. It chooses 

 invariably for the hangings of its apartments the most briUiant 

 scarlet, selecting as its material the petals of the wild poppy, 

 which the insect dexterously cuts into the proper form. 



50. Her first process is to excavate in some pathway a burrow 



cylindrical at the entrance, but enlarged as it descends, the depth 



being about three inches. After having polished the walls, she 



next flies to a neighbouring field, where she cuts out the oval 



22 



