Whetherinthefrontoratthebackofthespiralslope,theinsect\'sworkendsinafacadeofcoarsemosaic,formedofsmall,angularbitsofgravel,firmlycementedwithagumthenatureofwhichhastobeascertained。Itisanamber—colouredmaterial,semi—transparent,brittle,solubleinspiritsofwineandburningwithasootyflameandastrongsmellofresin。FromthesecharacteristicsitisevidentthattheBeeprepareshergumwiththeresinousdropsexudedbytheConiferae。
IthinkthatIamevenabletonametheparticularplant,thoughI
havenevercaughttheinsectintheactofgatheringitsmaterials。
Hardbythestone—heapswhichIturnoverformycollectionsthereisaplentifulsupplyofbrown—berriedjunipers。Pinesaretotallyabsent;andthecypressonlyappearsoccasionallynearthehouses。
Moreover,amongthevegetableremainswhichweshallseeassistingintheprotectionofthenest,weoftenfindthejuniper\'scatkinsandneedles。Astheresin—insectiseconomicalofitstimeanddoesnotflyfarfromthequartersfamiliartoit,thegummusthavebeencollectedontheshrubatwhosefootthematerialsforthebarricadehavebeengathered。Noristhismerelyalocalcircumstance,fortheMarseillesnestaboundsinsimilarremnants。Ithereforeregardthejuniperastheregularresin—purveyor,without,however,excludingthepine,thecypressandotherConiferaewhenthefavouriteshrubisabsent。