New South Wales. 241 



fill. Next this is the fore-arm, and next it are the feet, which 

 have three hooks, a small one on each side, and a larger in front 

 Between each of these is a powerful joint, 

 and they are confined to a large angle, as 

 they cannot be extended into a straight 

 line. When the animal, therefore, has 

 made the sides of his cell in a circular shape 

 by the gluten from his mouth, and a quan- 

 tity of pipe-clay, which he frequently em- 

 ploys in the building of it, he applies his 

 body to it, and, placing the fore-arms 

 around it, at an angle most convenient for 

 itself, he continues to rub up and down till 

 the shape has been given to the cell. The first angle is formed 

 by the body and the arm ; the second by the arm and fore-arm, 

 and the third on each side by the angles formed by the fore-arm, 

 and the feet or claws*. 



In proof of this, it may be remarked, that the bottom of the 

 cells is round, and the hexagonal form does not commence till 

 the cell has attained a sufficient height to admit of the applica- 

 tion of the animaPs body and legs to the outside of the cell, after 

 which, to the top of the cell, the hexagonal form is remarkably 

 distinct. Besides, to leave no doubt about the matter, we have 

 measured the legs of a full grown hornet, and then applied them 

 to the sides of the cells, and out of 160 cells in one nest, found 

 only half a dozen near the outside that did not correspond 

 exactly with the length of the arm or fore-arm, and these were 

 probably injured or dried up. 



In this respect, therefore, I think, that instinct may be pushed 

 one step farther back from the demesnes of philosophy, since 

 this very complicated and regular exhibition of animal sagacity 

 may be accounted for from the organic structure and formation 

 of the animal. The wonder still remains, why it should have 

 been constituted with such powers. But this wonder is in common 

 with that of every thing around us ; and is continually excited in 

 examining the wonders of the lower creation, especially in ento- 

 mology, which, in this country, above all others, would require 

 • The figure is considerably larger than nature. 



