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 1 This emergency is provided 
for. A back-door is prepared, in the shape of a gallery, 
leading sideways from the furthest coll 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 (. Megachile centuncularis), common 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 papavem). 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, “ 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 
