Sept. 1, 1S6G.] 



IIAllDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOS'SIP. 



109 



the hollow of a tree, entering by a small aperture* 

 These apertures arc lined with Fwai-ngyet, and 

 sometimes only show a small rim of that substance 

 raised above the bark of the tree. Sometimes, how- 

 ever (perhaps always if undisturbed), the bees go 

 on building outside and adding on to the rim, until 

 they have formed a wide-mouthed entrance which 

 projects as much as a foot from the tree. These 

 structures commonly assume the shape 

 of the mouth of a large trumpet flat- 

 tened horizontally, and have a perpen- 

 dicular diameter of a footer so, and 

 a horizontal diameter of three or four 

 inches. They are built with great re- 

 gularity in their exterior half, but not 

 so regularly towards the base, from 

 the necessity of adapting the struc- 

 ture to the shape of the tree where 

 the hole may chance to be. They are 

 very curious and pretty objects, but 

 being veiy prominent, attract the 

 notice of the passer-by, and so often 

 lead to the spoiling of the habitation. 



Fig. 193«.— ' 



Front view of " Sic non vobis 7iidi6.ca.tis apes." 



Mouth. 



I send you a rude sketch of one of 

 these trumpet-openings. I despatch also, by post, 

 together with this notice, a small piece of Pwai- 



Fig. 1956. Nest of Trignna laviceps, one-sixth natural size. 



ngyet, broken off the upper base of such a work. 

 By holding this up to the light, you will see three or 

 four large cells of about an inch in diameter, with- 



* The insect was figured in Science Gossip, vol. I.. p. 252, 

 ng. 3. 



out any opening. I can only suppose that the 

 object of these cell-walls is to strengthen the narrow 

 base in its support of the larger projecting mass. 

 If so, here is another instance of a mysterious 

 intelligence possessed by one of the smallest of 

 living creatures. 



This piece, marked A r o. 1, will show the ordinary 

 texture, colour, and general appearance of Pwai- 

 ngyet, as it is found in the jungles. No. 2 is nearly 

 white, a very unusual colour. I send it because of 

 its greater resemblance to Thcngan-tsee, or the resin 

 of the Hopea odornta; of which I also send a small 

 piece {No. 3), in order that you may be able to 

 ascertain how far the two substances are chemically 

 identical. 



What the internal economy of the nest of Trigona 

 laviceps is I cannot say, as the tree has commonly to 

 be felled in order to obtain the contents, and this I 

 have never seen done. I am informed by the Bur- 

 mese that from five to ten viss are usually obtained 

 from one nest. A viss is about 3|lb., and costs about 

 4 annas (6d.) in the Bazaar. I should imagine that, 

 considering the source whence it is procured, the 

 supply must be very limited ; and, if exported, it 

 would soon equal beeswax in price. 



Its principal, if not only use, at present, is for 

 caulking; and, for this purpose, it is mixed with 

 earth-oil, or petroleum. 



The method is to boil the Pwai-ngyet in water, 

 which makes it quite soft, and then to knead it with 

 a certain quantity of the petroleum, until it attains 

 the consistency of a lump of putty, which it much 

 resembles. In that state it is fit for use, and is ex- 

 tremely viscid and tenacious. On putting a piece 

 of Pwai-ngyet into boiling water, in order to per- 

 form the operation myself, I noticed that the surface 

 of the water was covered with a thin film of oil. 

 This confirms me in the idea that oil is united with 

 resin in the composition of Pwai-ngyet It is soluble 

 in oils and in turpentine, but not in spirits of wine. I 

 may conclude by mentioning that the mistakes made 

 by several persons in Burmah with regard to the 

 origin of this substance must have arisen from the 

 fact that the name of Pwai-ngyet is often used here, 

 in the bazaars, to denote any kind of resin or Dam- 

 mer, but the tine Pwai-ngyet of the Burmese is that 

 made by the small bee called Trigona lesviceps, and is 

 made by them in the manner 1 have tried to de- 

 scribe. 



Mov.lmein. 



C. S. P. Pauish. 



The drawing (fig. 195£), one-sixth the natural size, 

 is an imaginary restoration, as but the lower half is 

 before me. The portion marked A forms specimen 

 No. 1, sent to you. B, within the clotted line, marks 

 the space over which the Hind cells, for strength as 

 I suppose, extend. From the shape of the base, as 

 brought to me, the mass must have rested partly on 



