MANUAL OF THE APIARY. 37 



leaves of the rose. The cells are made by gluing these leaf- 

 se&tions in concentric layers, letting them over-lap. The ob- 

 long sections form the walls of the cylinder, while the circular 

 pieces are crowded as we press circular wads into our shot- 

 guns, and are used at the ends or for partitions where several 

 cells are placed together. When complete, the single cells 

 are in form and size much like a revolver cartridge. When 

 several are placed together, which is usually the case, they 

 are arranged end to end, and in size and form are qnite like a 

 small stick of candy, though not more than one-third as long. 

 These cells I have found in the grass, partially buried in the 

 earth, in crevices, and in one case knew of their being built 

 in the folds of a partially-knit sock, which a good house-wife 

 had chanced to leave stationary for some days. These leaf- 

 cutters have rows of hairs underneath, with which they carry 

 pollen. I have noticed them each summer for some years 

 swarming on the Virginia creeper, often called woodbine, 

 while in blossom, in quest of pollen, though I never saw. a 

 single hive-bee on these vines. The tailor-bees often cut the 

 foliage of the same vines quite badly. 



I have often reared beautiful bees of the genus Osmia, 

 which are also called mason-bees. Their glistening colors of 

 blue and green possess a luster and reflection unsurpassed 

 even by the metals themselves. These rear their young in 

 cells of mud, in mud-cells lining hollow weeds and shrubs, 

 and in burrows which they dig in the hard earth. In early 

 summer, during warm days, these glistening gems of life are 

 frequently seen in walks and drives intent on gathering earth 

 for mortar, or digging holes, and will hardly escape identifica- 

 tion by the observing apiarist, as their form is so much like 

 that of our honey-bees. They are smaller ; yet their broad 

 Lead, prominent eyes, and general form, are very like those of 

 the equally qmck and active, yet more soberly attired, work- 

 ers of the apiary. 



Other bees — the numerous species of the genus Nomada, 

 and of Apathus, are the black sheep in the family Apidse. 

 These tramps, already referred to, like the English cuckoo 

 and our American cow-blackbird, steal in upon the unwary, 

 and, though all unbidden, lay their eggs ; in this way appro- 

 priating food and lodgings for their own yet unborn. Thus 



