The great, the very great majority of the cocoons turn out to be males; here and there, in the bigger cells, a few rare females appear.

The smallness of the space has almost done away with the stronger sex.

This result is demonstrated by the sixty-eight Snail-shells colonized.

But, of this total number, I must use only those series which received an entire laying and were occupied by the same Osmia from the beginning to the end of the egg-season.

Here are a few examples, taken from among the most conclusive.
From the 6th of May, when she started operations, to the 25th of May, the date at which her laying ceased, one Osmia occupied seven Snail-shells in succession.