INSECTS. 
177 
less than two. When she finds that the piece she has 
brought is too largo to fit the place intended, she cuts off 
what is superfluous, and carries away the shreds. By 
cutting the fresh petal of a poppy with a pair of scissors, 
we may perceive the difficulty of keeping the piece free 
from wrinkles and shrivelling ; but the Bee knows how to 
spread the pieces which she uses as smooth as glass. 
“ When she has in this manner hung the little chamber 
all round with this splendid scarlet tapestry, of which she 
is not sparing, but extends it even beyond the entrance, 
she then fills it with the pollen of flowers mixed with 
honey, to the height of about half an inch. In this maga- 
zine of provisions for her future progeny she lays an egg, 
and over it folds down the tapestry of poppy-petals from 
above. The upper part is then filled with earth.”' 8 ' 
Many other examples might be given of the wonderful 
instinct of Insects manifested in the construction of 
dwellings, as those of the Mud-wasps ( Pelopceus ) of 
America, the Termites of tropical Africa, and the Ants 
of all countries. For these, however, we must refer our 
readers to works specially devoted to the economy of 
Insects. 
* “Ins. Arch.” 55. 
