. Insect architecture. Insects. MASON-BKES. have learnt nothing by experience. But the mode in which they accomplish this task varies according to the situations in which they are placed. They appear to have a glimmering of reason, employed as an accessary and instrument of their instinct. The structure, when finished, consisted of a wall of clay supported by two contiguous bricks, enclosing six chambers, within which a mass of pollen, rather larger than a cherry-stone, was deposited, together with an etrg, from which in due time a grub was hatched. Contrary to what has been recorded by pre- c
. Insect architecture. Insects. MASON-BKES. have learnt nothing by experience. But the mode in which they accomplish this task varies according to the situations in which they are placed. They appear to have a glimmering of reason, employed as an accessary and instrument of their instinct. The structure, when finished, consisted of a wall of clay supported by two contiguous bricks, enclosing six chambers, within which a mass of pollen, rather larger than a cherry-stone, was deposited, together with an etrg, from which in due time a grub was hatched. Contrary to what has been recorded by pre- ceding naturalists, with respect to other mason-bees, we found the cells in this instance quite parallel and perpendicular; but it may also be remarked, that the 12 3. Cells of Mason Bees built, in the first and second figures, by Osmia bicurnis between bricks, and !n the third, by SJi-gachite ' i the fluting of an uld pilaster; about halt the natural bee itself was a species altogether different from the one which we have described above as the Antho- ph-ora ntvsa, and agreed with the figure of the one we caught quarrying the clay—(Osmia birornis). There was one circumstance attending the pro- ceedings of this mason-bee which struck us not a little, though we could not explain it to our own. Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original Rennie, James, 1787-1867. London, M. A. Nattali
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1840, booksubjectinsects, bookyear1846
