276 
BRITISH BEES. 
they form within them, will necessarily vary in diameter 
and length with the size of the species, but in the larger 
species they are about an inch and a quarter long and half 
an inch in diameter. Some entomologists have surmised 
that different species use the leaves of different plants for 
lining their cells; this, however, is not strictly the case, as 
shown in the preceding remarks; but, although not so, 
the series of nests in the same tube are always lined with 
cuttings from the same plant; perhaps a varying caprice 
operates upon each day's labours and changes the plant, 
influenced by the drift of the wind or some casual freak. 
The cylindrical tube being prepared, which is done 
very similarly to the way in which it is practised by 
all the labouring genera, by the gradual removal of the 
particles of the wood, or sand, or earth of which it con¬ 
sists, the insect's instinct prompts it to fly forth to ob¬ 
tain the requisite lining, that the lateral earth may not 
fall in, or the wood taint the store to be accumulated 
for the young, for it is before this is done that the 
upholstery is commenced. Having fixed upon the pre¬ 
ferred plant, Rose-bush or Laburnum or Sallow, or 
whatever it may be, it alights upon the leaf, and fixing 
itself upon the edge, it holds it with three legs on each 
side, then using its mandibles as the cutter of silhouettes 
would his scissors, and, just as rapidly as he cuts out a 
profile, does this ingenious little creature ply the tools it 
is furnished with by nature. The oval or semicircular 
cutting being thus speedily dispatched, with the legs still 
clinging to the surfaces, the insect biting its w r ay back¬ 
wards, the piece cut off necessarily remains within the 
clutch of the legs, and, when about falling, the rejoicing 
labourer expands her wings and flies off with it with a 
hum of delightful triumph, the cutting being carried 
