The question of the rotary machine remains. Darwin advised me to use a
circular box with an axle and a handle. I have nothing of the kind in
the house. It will be simpler and quite as effective to employ the
method of the countryman who tries to lose his Cat by swinging him in
a bag. My insects, each one placed by itself in a paper cornet (A
cornet is simply the old 'sugar-bag,' the funnel-shaped paper bag so
common on the continent and still used occasionally by small grocers
and tobacconists in England.--Translator's Note.) or screw, shall be
placed in a tin box; the screws of paper shall be wedged in so as to
avoid collisions during the rotation; lastly, the box shall be tied to
a cord and I will whirl the whole thing round like a sling. With this
contrivance, it will be quite easy to obtain any rate of speed that I
wish, any variety of inverse movements that I consider likely to make
my captives lose their bearings. I can whirl my sling first in one
direction and then in another, turn and turn about; I can slacken or
increase the pace; if I like, I can make it describe figures of eight,
combined with circles; if I spin on my heels at the same time, I am
able to make the process still more complicated by compelling my sling
to trace every known curve. That is what I shall do.

On the 2nd of May 1880, I make a white mark on the thorax of ten
Mason-bees busied with various tasks: some are exploring the slabs of
clay in order to select a site; others are brick-laying; others are
garnering stores. When the mark is dry, I catch them and pack them as
I have described. I first carry them a quarter of a mile in the
opposite direction to the one which I intend to take. A path skirting
my house favours this preliminary manoeuvre; I have every hope of
being alone when the time comes to make play with my sling. There is a
way-side cross at the end; I stop at the foot of the cross. Here I
swing my Bees in every direction. Now, while I am making the box