Cuar. XII.] THE CARPENTER BEE. 419 
nial Secretary’s official residence at Kandy. So soon as 
the day grew warm, these active creatures were at work 
perforating the wooden columns which supported the 
verandah. They poised themselves on their shining 
purple wings, as they made the first lodgment in the 
THE CARPENTER BEE. 
wood, enlivening the work with an uninterrupted hum 
of delight, which was audible to a considerable distance. 
‘When the excavation had proceeded so far that the 
insect could descend into it, the music was suspended, 
but renewed from time to time, as the little creature 
came to the orifice to throw out the chips, to rest, or to 
enjoy the fresh air. By degrees, a mound of saw-dust 
was formed at the base of the pillar, consisting of par- 
ticles abraded by the mandibles of the bee. These, 
when the hollow was completed to the depth of several 
inches, were partially replaced in the excavation after 
being agglutinated to form partitions between the eggs, 
as they were deposited within. The mandibles! of these 
bees are admirably formed for the purpose of work- 
ing out the tunnels required, being short, stout, and 
usually furnished at the tip with two teeth which are 
rounded somewhat into the form of cheese-cutters. 
1 See figure above. 
EE 2 
