150 Life and Immortality. 
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LEAF-CUTTER BEE AT WORK. 
Two Tunnels Being Filled With Leaf-Cells. 
has been chosen. She scans it over and over, and at last 
from a position on its upper or nether surface proceeds to 
cut a piece just fitted for her work, which, heavy as it seems, 
is seized between the legs and jaws and carried on swiftly- 
agitated wings to her burrow. 
Ten pieces or more, each differing in shape, are cut and 
borne away, which the ingenious insect tailor twists and 
folds, the one within the other, until is formed a funnel-like 
cone, whose end is narrower than its mouth. So perfectly 
joined are the parts, that even when dry they have been 
found to retain their form and integrity. A cake of honey 
and pollen, for the use of some yet unborn Leaf-cutter, is 
