THE HALICTI 219 



And behold, to-day, the ignoramus of three months 

 ago, without serving any apprenticeship, knows the peril, 

 knows it well. Every stranger that appears is kept at a 

 distance, without distinction of size or race. If the 

 threatening gesture be not enough, the keeper sallies forth 

 and flings herself upon the persistent one. Poltroonery 

 has developed into courage. 



How has this change been brought about ? I should 

 like to picture the Halictus gaining wisdom from the mis- 

 fortunes of spring and capable thenceforth of looking out 

 for danger ; I would gladly credit her with having learnt 

 in the stern school of experience the advantages of a 

 guard. I must give up the idea. If, by dint of gradual 

 little acts of progress, the Bee has gradually achieved 

 the glorious invention of a portress, how comes it that the 

 fear of thieves is intermittent ? It is true that, alone, in 

 May, she cannot stand permanently at her door : the 

 business of the house takes precedence of everything. 

 But she ought, at least, as soon as her offspring are perse- 

 cuted, to know the parasite and give chase when, at every 

 moment, she finds her almost under her feet and even 

 in her house. Yet she pays no attention to her. 



The harsh trials of the ancestors, therefore, have be- 

 queathed naught to her of a nature to alter her placid 

 character ; and her own tribulations have nothing to say 

 to the sudden awakening of her vigilance in July. Like 

 oxurselves, the animal has its joys and its troubles. It 

 uses the former eagerly ; it bothers but little about the 

 latter, which is, when all is said, the best way of reaUzing 

 an animal enjoyment of life. To mitigate these troubles 

 and protect the progeny there is the inspiration of the 

 instinct, which is able to give a portress to the Halictus 

 without the counsels of experience. 



