Marvels of the Universe 



305 



of his time sipping nectar from wayside 

 flowers or in revelry ^^'ith his good-for- 

 nothing companions. 



The female Leaf-cutting Bee deserves a 

 more careful introduction. She has been 

 aptly likened to a stout hive bee in form 

 and general appearance. She is both larger 

 and more robust than her partner, and this 

 is only natural, her hfe being passed in a 

 round of arduous labour. Indeed, it is her 

 habits rather than her appearance that call 

 for our close attention, for she is one of 

 the most skilful artisans of the bee-world, 

 and is expert in at least three callings. 



She makes her debut in the early 

 summer, and as soon as her nuptials are 

 accomplished she at once turns her atten- 

 tion to house-hunting. Instinct guides 

 her to rotten wood, such as an old gate- 

 post, the defective beam of a shed or green- 

 house, or the dead heart of a pollard willow. 

 Here she commences to drive a tunnel, 

 following, as a rule, the line of least resist- 

 ance — i.e., the particular layer of wood 

 which has become softened by decay. She 

 rasps industrioush" at the wood with her 

 jaws, rakes the chips beneath her body by 

 means of her legs, and then, by walking 

 backwards, pushes the debris out of the 

 hole. 



The bee continues to demonstrate her 

 skill as a carpenter for some days, until 

 she has made her tunnel long enough for 

 her purpose, or is stopped by a layer of 

 wood too hard for her jaws to cope with. 

 She then performs a brief toilet, carefully 

 combing the dust from her abundant brown 

 hair, and flies off to a rose-bush. She is 

 now about to prove her dexterity as a 

 pattern-cutter. It is not an easy matter 

 to catch her actuall}' at work ; but if, 

 during the sunny morning hours, we stand 

 patiently near to a likely bush, we shall 

 sooner or later be rewarded. The sight is 

 well worth waiting for. The bee hovers 

 in doubt for a moment. Apparently she 

 is making up her rnind as to which leaf 

 she win attack. Suddenly her decision is 

 made. She alights upon the leaf, grasping 



The male of this Bee is smaller than the female, and is a 

 drone leaving all worlc to his partner. 



«.*svi*an'^.- 



t 



The Bee a I worU, leaf -culling. (Natural size J 



fill 



• • • • 



Photos hi/'] 



If/arohl Bdsfiii. 



THE LEAF-CUTTING BEE. 



Nine of tKe eleven pieces of leaf whicK go to form one cell 

 of iKe Bee. (Natural size.* 



