176 



LIFE, IN ITS INTERMEDIATE FORMS. 



It is evident that, since the earliest-laid egg will be 

 hatched first, and will soonest come to maturity, it will 

 want its liberty before its younger brethren are ready for 

 theirs. But it is imprisoned at the very end of the tun- 

 nel : how, then, can it be freed, without destroying all the 

 other cells in its course ? This emergency is provided 

 for. A back-door is prepared, in the shape of a gallery, 

 leading sideways from the furthest cell to the surface of 

 the post ; this the young Bee has the instinct to avail 

 itself of; the rest following in succession, each breaking 

 through its own floor, and then finding a clear passage. 



There is a Bee somewhat resembling the Hive-bee, but 

 rather stouter {MegcuchiU centuncularis), commou in sum- 

 mer in our gardens, which lines the tunnels that she bores 

 in firm earth with portions of the leaves of rose-beeches. 

 These she cuts into the required patterns with inimitable 

 rapidity and accuracy, and forms them into thimble-like 

 cells within the tunnel, fitting the end of one into the 

 mouth of another, and storing each cell with an egg, and 

 the needful store of food. 



But the workmanship of this species is excelled by that 

 of another, the Poppy Bee (Osmia papaveris). Her hole 

 resembles in form a Florence flask, but is no more than 

 one-third so large. The walls are made very smooth, and 

 thus prepared for her most exquisite tapestry. 



The material used for this purpose, a is supplied by the 

 petals of the scarlet field-poppy, from which she succes- 

 sively cuts off small pieces of an oval shape, seizes them 

 between her legs, and conveys them to the nest. She 

 begins her work at the bottom, which she overlays with 

 three or four leaves in thickness, and the sides have never 



