376 THE HOME OF THE BEES. 
with three points. 1st, the rapidity with which the in- 
sect worked; secondly, the tenacity with which she kept 
her original position whilst excavating ; and thirdly, her 
constantly going over work which had apparently been 
completed. . . . The lid is excavated and rendered con- 
cave on its outer or upper surface, and is convex and 
rough on its inner surface; and, in fact, is a simple repe- 
tition of the first-formed portion of the cell, a part of a 
hollow sphere.” 
The largest species of Osmia known to us is a very 
dark-blue Species.* We are indebted to a lady for speci- 
mens of the bees with their cells, which had been exca- ; 
vated in the interior of a maple tree several inches from 
the bark. The bee had industriously tunnelled out this 
elaborate burrow (Plate 10, Fig. 12), and, in this respect, 
resembled the habits of the Carpenter-bee (Xylocopa), 
more closely than any other species of its genus. 
he tunnel was over three inches long, and about 
three-tenths of an inch wide. It contracted a little in 
width between the cell, showing that the bee worked in- 
telligently, and wasted no more of her energies than was 
absolutely necessary. The burrow contained five cells, 
each half an inch long, being rather short and broad, with ~ 
the hinder end rounded, while the opposite end, next to 
the one adjoining, is cut off squarely. The cell is some- 
what jug-shaped, owing to a slight constriction just be- 
hind the mouth. The material of which the cell is com- 
posed is stout, silken, parchment-like, and very smooth 
Within. The interstices between the cells are filled in 
_ With rather coarse chippings made by the bee. 
Se ee ee Te 
Ais seems to be an undescribed species. We will call it the wood-bo 
Osmia (Osmia lignivora). It is larger than the Osmia lignaria of Say, poing at 
T oo te bend in Ha vr and pst sanare 85 
on the thorax yellow ore sa a 
e all 
æ is clothed with dark hairs, 
greenish with yellowish hairs. The body is deep 
