The Red Cloud chief., 1881-06-09

begin 20 venture abroad They a;icmP,
short flights. and II they hIni a lev
STRAY. puny flowers. they seek thcm'
( only
rni their honcy In ans tn ,sin
Aud trrpiy ~ btsS 60 their hi'ee sssiIA-
Mos, Young people know u great deal
! ni,,ut the s-.iaf bees that hive IN the
hive. but not So much about The sottfrF
species that begin AMI finish every
part OF their wonderful hest without
! assistance of any sort. whIc the hive
bees labor for one commou end. bring
in their beautiful ~vrS 20 IT, comPle-
ton together.
The solitary bees cunst ,ute - very
Interesting part OF the insect kinSl'u'.
and they are not ~behtndhani IN their
ingenuity and skill. Let me tell Noa q!
some of the homes which they make Tor
the protection M their young. and vo'i
can see for yourselves how very carton'
they are.
We " i'll take first the little carpenter
or violet bee so called because of the
beautiful cu,oring upon her w.ngs. 5ut
her workmanship Is much more To DC
admired than her beauty oi color. Her
home i a sort of tunnel. or several tun-
ncls. in some piece of wood which Ia
been suitcucd by decay. and which.
when finished. j. twelve tinIcs thole length
of her body. ohisclcd cut aS smoothly ~
If bv the tool If an experienced work
man. (and j. 10 not ioE II - really
much easier for the bee - build her nest
than for a carpenter To biild n house.
even though he builds many and she
but uneD
After the tunnel IL prepared IL Is
divided into separate cells If an inch IN
depth. And what do YOU think the
partition il made III that divides them
\ very Insecure one for a hOu>o of
Yours. YOU would say. aud yet II N cN-
actiy suited to the bee 5 purpose: moth
ing mere or less than Sawdust-Ccmcnt-
ell sawdusti Sometimes she prefer
the little chrppinss which are made b.
the excavation. collec; NJ them as She
works. by the side of her nest. for fut-
ure use; but when she Is al through
with her work there il never u chip To
be seen anywhere! These pieces oi
wood. when used. are cemcnicd to-
gctbcr So n 10 form such n durable
shelf that it i A. solid rs il but one
piece. though really in many lrsg-
ments.
Now. that our little bee architect has
finished her home. she places there her
first egg. aud ovsr il the pollen of flow
crs-which. you know. is tho fine dust
Of their stamcns-making IL into a soft
paste by The use Of honey. This paste
is nearly an inch high for she knows
exactly how much the young grub will
Need before IL can ta<c care OF itself.
This again is covered with the cement
ell ceiling. which serves Tor the NEXT
chamber in this little housc. SO she
goes on until she has completed ten ar
twelve cells. each containing an egg
The main entrance j. then closed by "A
wall Of the same material.
Having done all this. the knowing
mother leaves the rest for Nature 20 DO. 1
and very soon the perfect little bee ap-
pear in this comfortable nursery. az
course. the fir.t cell CONTAINS TIE first
living occupant. But how Il IT 10 get
out ut its prison hedgcd in as 1t i-2
When the carpenter bulls the nest. see
low admirably this emergency was pro-
yiied for. IL you could examine the
cells. you would lind mt Inc bottom 81
each "A hole bored. and waiting for the
exit u each newcomer when IL is ready
To come forth.
A. We have said. the violet bee makes
but one nest. and yet IL !. a. beaut fully
finished a. if she had made a thousand
and without . pattern. too, Yes. but
there - One " no told her Just what tn
do. and she obcycd the teaching. 4. lie
not q wonderful God?
Now iet ~ turn 10 the poppy bee. an
other Of the solitary workers. and one
who is emphstically nm upholstcrrr-
for she mo-, only. by her great skill and
ingenuity. makes her nest. but thor.
oughIy furnishes il. An old writer say.
OF this nest. comparing il with our own
elaborate specimens
&" Row al cradles, lined With Own.
by plume surtnofipfof. or by CrrWn7
An ihsr" are chambers iu the earth.
WIN q Giraffe in osch dwelling.
Furnished ties . baInbss bath.
Setsi Jour ~as srn 'r salp sroelifnz-
Far a. the bay . rofc - Yn.d
Out-bOse Einr lpm" : of Old !"
And Il Is so; her work j. so interesting.
and the drarery 81 SNOWY which she So
lccts. that this little upholsteTer il
greatly distinguished The only mate
nal which she uses in the adornment Of
her nes; Is the petals or leaves o. The
scarlet field poppy. which are very |
beautiful. as you know. This gives her
the name Of poppy bee" \.
But ! have not told you how this nes.
il formed A hole is dug in the ground
about three inches deep. gradually Wild
ening a. il descesds. until il assume.
the form Of 4 small flask. Inside tn.
excavation il IL Uniform and polished. !
in order 90 prepare IL for the tapestry :
with which 70 y 90 be hung. and which f,
l. sAa ra~s asa. - 81. - r. a
architect te<ins II the bottom. las iny /.
three Or four leaves. one above the
other. and around the sides there are
never kss than two; and TO aii ia the
ereFiess. she prepares small oval pssee.. ,
SEXES them between her leg. and con- !
Eets them 10 The spot. and IL the piece I,
b too i9rge. she cuts of whs; IL not /,
neerted and throws the shred. away. :
ii we were 10 do ihHs. the leaf would ,
shrIvei up nader our hanis; bot the bee /,
understands IL better than we do and .
kroTs vel hO~ ~ spread the piece. :
she uses and have them Is smooth =. +.
satin :
And no~ that on poppy bee has huny :
the little CHAMBER with this gorzeoe~ ,
d~raPerT-and she uses IL yery laTl.hIv
for she even carries II BEYOND the
e~nirance-she tlls IL TO the devth al e.,
bali Ia inch with pollen MIXED with !
honey. In this fall store-hO4sse. which ,
she has prepared for her Young. sh@ !,
an ezg. AMI over I, she folds !,
most carefully these beautiful /,
scarlet psta,s from aboyeI The upper !,
part - then filed with earth :
How very much alive mus. this little
be 20 the beautiful in color wien
prepare. such delicate banging. for .
ssr offspring; and even ~ they caarot =
.Ppreca ate ;his. in the dars ness of Their :
nursery q thing they do know, and p
hat = the s,ore Of honey so tenaeriy q
prepared for The r use. !,
And noS we are wondering what her =