The Sun.
London, England, 1830-09-07 00:00:00

CARPENTER BEES' NEST.

Cut out this morning (Aug. 2), from an old
oaken rail, the nest of the carpengir bee—a cu-
rious receptacle, well known to many persons ;
but yet it merits attention, because it seems to
be a construction upon which more than usual
foresight has been manifested—it not being
merely an asylum in which the young may be
matured in quiet, but secured against external
annoyance from its most destructive enemy by a
contrivance so unusual and effective, that it ap-
pears formed from the result of a reasoning upon
probabilities. This creature,—a short, stout,
plain bee—mines a tubular channel into some
decayed woody substance—a post, pale, or such
thing—boring in the directton of the fibre,
making her repository at the bottom, being
sufficiently deep for her purpose. She cuts
from the leaf of la rose several large pieces, often
an half, conveying them to the bottom of her
cave, and rolling them up so as to form a case
in this she deposits an egg. The mouth of the
cave is then covered with five or six circular
patches of leaves ; fragments of wood like saw-
dust are then lodged over them, and the remain-
der of this channel filled up with other patches
of the leaf, requiring, perhaps, twenty or more to
accomplish it. This requires no great effort or
time to effect, this active creature labouring with
great assiduity ; but the conveyance of the frag
ments which form the nest MIAs to be attended
with much fatigue, having, often seen the crea-
ture, with its burden drawn between its legs,
retire to rest against the boll of a tree, or upon
a wall, the abdomen contracting and dilating
with rapidity, like the sides of a creature after
exertion. Having acquired strength, her labours
are resumed. All these layers and saw-dust are
designed to secure the larva from punctures by
the ichneumon fly, which is constantly seeking
for caterpillars of various insects, in which to
deposit her egg : this hatches and grows with
their growth, feeding on their vitals, consuming
them, and perfecting itself. But all these guards
effectually prevent the purport of the fly, the
larva remainin safe in its asylum until suffi-
ciently matured; it then penetrates through all
these layers, assuming the form of the parent
bee. I believe the rose and the cytisus labor.
num only are made use of for these circular
layers.—Journal Qf a Naturalist.
rrd

The Illustrious Baron Cutrugh, one of the
profoundest natural philosophers, and most accurate emu.
parative anatomists of the age, is now a guest at the palace
of the Bishop of BATH and Witu.s.

The Windsor Express says—" We felt our-
selves called upon to make such inquiries as would enable
us to lay before the public the real motives which induced
their MaJESTIRS, after all the vast and formal preparations
for a lengthened stay at Windsor, to alter their deterini-
nation, and to quit the town so soon, so suddenly, and to
the no small surprise end regret of its inhabitants. Its
the first place, we have it in our power to state that both
the Kiwi and the Hunts; remain unalterably attached to
Windsor ; and, seoondly, that the indifferent health 'or
the Princess ELiaAlllll4, WIIO lag been for soere time
suffering from a dropsical, uffection 'a the knee, and for
whom sea-buthieg has been prescribed, has been the
primary cause of the Royal determination with respect to
Brighton. Independent of this, it mey be stated that the
Quarsr, although not absolutely indiaposed,,is considered by
her physicians to be in a state en delicate, as to induce them
to recommend a removal to the sea-side; and, moreover, the
Km himself, we regret to say it, has lately been troubled
with rheumatic p tins in one of his hands, for the bent fit 01
which his Itimearr is also availing himself of the ed
tages of sea-bathing. These, then, *nay be stated as the
reasons—and three very sufficing re4scr s they are—for the
presence of the Royal party at Orighlon at this moment.
For the present it is arranged, we believe. that the r MA.
straits remain at the Pavilion until the opening of Par-
bantam (shout the .26th of (hwhor), when they will re-
pair to London, seal remain it St. JaMes's For a .beet no.
and
onifol:auearr continueIVI
till
hen, si willh they
ti
trotll.ltf) srhte:ifil 1:t
ee their
w 1 l b
believe,e untille
att, ll Brighton
el v t:
nt i
dti ou i
r
will again become the Royal residence. The Royal este,
blisliment at Windsor Is now entirely broken up, and it is
expected that their 111A3ggTiri will spend their Christmas
at ririghton, and not at the Castle, as was originally la-
tended."

The Curragh. Races commence next wed
under the most flattering auspices. Their Graces tlO
Duke and Duchess of NORMISIt IIettLAND have weceptei
an invitation to Palmerstown-house, the hospitable man.
son of the Earl and Counteae ofiklavo, for the purpose
attending the races. Several persons of distinction are alai
to be imustee of Pahnerstown during the ensuing meeting

- -
HIGHLAND QUARTErte--A Highlande,
(whose regiment having been surrounded bad rut their wa
out with the broadsword, With the loss of half thei
number), being the last in retreating and highly ehasei
was stopped by a forward Preach: min returning from th
pursuit, who charged him with his bayonet, but soon find
ing the disadvantage of his weapon , cried out "quarter !
" Quarter ye," said Dos.u.n, 4t to muelde WO sus
quarter ye for me! Py my sohl I'v oat lboo to *Putt
ye; ye maun e'en be contentit to be cut In twa 1" makia
his bead fly from his shoulders, . ~