UPHOLSTERER-BEES. fi] 



herself on the wing, is to prevent her falling to the 

 ground, when the piece gives way ; but as no winded 

 insect requires to take any such precaution, our ex- 

 planation is probably the true one. 



With the piece which she has thus cut out, held in 

 a bent position, perpendicular to her body, she flies 

 oft' to her nest, and fits it into the interior with the ut- 

 most neatness and ingenuity ; and, without employing 

 any paste or glue, she trusts, as Rijaumur ascertained, 

 to the spring the leaf takes, in trying to retain it in its 

 position. It requires from nine to twelve pieces of 

 leaf to form one cell, as they are not always of pre- 



