370 *THE HOME OF THE BEES. 
used for many years. Some of the old tunnels are very 
wide. I have found parts of them about an inch in diam- 
eter. I think this is caused by rasping off the sides 
to procure the necessary material for constructing their. 
cells. The partitions are composed of wood-raspings, and 
some sticky fluid, probably saliva, to make it adhere. 
“The tunnels are sometimes taken possession of by other 
bees and wasps. I think when this is the case, the Xylo- 
copa prefers making a new cell to cleaning out the mud 
and rubbish of the other species. I frequently find these 
bees remaining for a long time on the wing close to the 
opening, and Jobbing their heads against the side, as if 
fanning air into the opening. I hase seen them thus em- 
ployed for twenty minutes. Whether one bee or more 
makes the tunnel, that is, whether they take turns in 
boring, I cannot say at present. In opening the cells, 
more than one are generally found, even at this season. 
About two weeks ago, I found as many as seven, I I think, 
in one.” * 
The hole is divided by partitions into cells about 
seven-tenths of an inch long. These partitions are Con- 
structed of the coarse dust or a made by the bee 
“Since writing the above I have opened one of the new holes of Xylocopa 
‘ener was rommenced Led ag three and four weeks ago, in a pine slat used in 
the staging of the greenh The iA were as follows: 
3-8 wide; depth 7-16; whole. e length at ee 65-16 inches. The tunnel brancb 
ways from the ho yr 5-8, pey Bene "i a 
two with larva and poll en, the thi Sid ae ety. her side o: opening, 0 
rest of the with th e exception of bye old bee (only one) at work, 5 
I think this was the work or one bee, and, as n an judge, about twenty- 
days’ San Width of tunnel anije at widest 9-16 in ns d 
‘or. some days thi has been dischar: antity of saw- -dust an 
ve is bee a great t she 
pomy which I had collected by placing a vessel under Pe Tt bet giles seem thai at 
cig constructed also in the opposite side of a ne hole, and that she re! pee 
rf ae tuff thrown out, I cots partition ofa Aer t 
e oe I will enclose you the stuff greand lected, d, and also some of the 
I have just found a Xylocopa bobbing at one of the holes, and in bed wagons 
tain the depth of the tunnel, and to see whether there were any others in hemi 
sounded with a pliable rod, and found others in on one side, at & a pth lof ivo an was 
cool, so that the object in bobbing could not be to introduce teal adroit of air, 
but must have had some relation to those inside. Their legs on such occasions are 
as I have noticed, loaded with pollen.” a 
