The Mason-Bees | Page 3

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This etext was prepared by Sue Asscher [email protected]

THE MASON-BEES
by J. HENRI FABRE

TRANSLATED BY ALEXANDER TEIXEIRA DE MATTOS, F.Z.S.

TRANSLATOR'S NOTE.
This volume contains all the essays on the Chalicodomae, or
Mason-bees proper, which so greatly enhance the interest of the early
volumes of the "Souvenirs entomologiques." I have also included an
essay on the author's Cats and one on Red Ants--the only study of Ants
comprised in the "Souvenirs"--both of which bear upon the sense of
direction possessed by the Bees. Those treating of the Osmiae, who are
also Mason-Bees, although not usually known by that name, will be
found in a separate volume, which I have called "Bramble-bees and
Others" and in which I have collected all that Fabre has written on such
other Wild Bees as the Megachiles, or Leaf-cutters, the Cotton-bees,
the Resin-bees and the Halicti.
The essays entitled "The Mason-bees, Experiments" and "Exchanging
the Nests" form the last three chapters of "Insect Life", translated by
the author of "Mademoiselle Mori" and published by Messrs.
Macmillan, who, with the greatest courtesy and kindness have given
me their permission to include a new translation of these chapters in the
present volume. They did so without fee or consideration of any kind,
merely on my representation that it would be a great pity if this uniform
edition of Fabre's Works should be rendered incomplete because
certain essays formed part of volumes of extracts previously published
in this country. Their generosity is almost unparalleled in my
experience; and I wish to thank them publicly for it in the name of the
author, of the French publishers and of the English and American
publishers, as well as in my own.
Some of the chapters have appeared in England in the "Daily Mail", the
"Fortnightly Review" and the "English Review"; some in America in
"Good Housekeeping" and the "Youth's Companion"; others now see
the light in English for the first time.
I have again to thank Miss Frances Rodwell for the invaluable
assistance which she has given me in the