The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1897-08-25
THE cAapsNrER.erg
The Manner In which They mskr
Their Home and Hear Their Ynn..-

Their Home and Rear Their You,g
II you will look carefully along ths,
under side of the ledge on any ola
board fence, you will probably be re-
warded by finding one or more round
holes, about half an inch in diameter
ind as true and smooth as though bored
with an auger. BY placing your ear
close to the wood you may often hear
n low. buzzing sound issuing from with
in. II you are patient, and will watch
the hole for short time or strike tho
wood in its vicinity sharp blow, a
large black-and-yellow insect will como
tumbling forth, and fly buzzing away.
"a bumblebee!" you exclaim. What
WINS he doing in thcreY' But, never
theless, you are mistaken; for although
in general appearance she certainly
does resemble our bumblebee friends.
yet should you compare the two you
would find them quite different. In
our new acquaintance the stripes are
pale ocher yellow instead of the rich
golden color of the bumblebee; and the
yellow pollen baskets on the hind legs
of the latter are replaced by brush
of coarse, stiff hairs.
This insect is the large carpenter
bee" and we'll named she is, too, for
no human carpenter could bore neater
holes, or chisel out the wood to form
a dry and coy home better than does
this little creature with no tools saws
those nature furnished In the form of
sharp, horny mandibles or jaws. After
boring the hole to the depth Of abon.
I'm inch, the carpenter bee turns at
right angles TO the entrance, and pa
tiently cuts a long tunnel. foot or
more in length parallel TO the surface
of the wood. The completion of this
long, dry chamber necessitates hard,
unceasing labor for several weeks, and
then the little carpenter combines bust
ness with pleasure by taking frequent
excursions to sunny fields and gardens,
to gather honey and pollen from the
flowers store. From the nectar thus
obtained she forms a paste which is
packed closely in the end of her new
Nv built house, and on it lays single
egg. Next, small chips, made in Dor
ing the hole, are brought, and mixing
them with a secretion from her mouth,
she fastens them on the sides of the
tunnel, working round and round in a
spiral, each turn of which reaches near
er the center; until finally, a thin
wooden partition is formed, walling off
the egg and its little store of honey
paste. Against this wall more honey
is packed, another egg laid, partition
built, and the operation completed I'M
til the chamber is completely filled.
The first egg laid is the first to hatch,
and the tiny white grub comes forth
and at once commences to feast upon
the food SO providentially placed with
in his little chamber. Finally he goes
to sleep, and while he slumbers his
skin grows hard and brown, while
ridges and protuberances appear upon
its surface. At last the little pupa
bursts open, and a perfect bee comes
forth, with his shining black head close
to the dainty wall his mother built,
This, all unmindful of her toll, he i'm
mediately tears down, only to find his
way to freedom checked by his next
younger brother or sister, still asleep
in its pupa case After waiting patient
~ the pupa which bars his progress
matches ont into another bee, who tears
down the wall to his own cell, to find
another pupa barring his way, when
both are compelled to remain by the
pupa beyond. Finally the last bee is
hatchcd, and, breaking down the bar
rier which hides the world of flowers
and freedom from his view. the whole
brood swarms forth to try their rest
less, gauzy wings in the bright sun
shine.--A. Hyatt Verrill, in st. Nicho.
las