Reflections upon Insect Psychology 



quired to strengthen the cover. Each time, 

 the mason applies the material with the most 

 minute care, while giving the straw not a 

 thought. In this way, I obtain, one after the 

 other, eight closed cells whose lids are sur- 

 mounted by my mast, a bit of protruding 

 straw. What evidence of obtuse Inteljigence ! 

 This result Is deserving of attentive consi- 

 deration. At the moment when I am Inserting 

 my beam, the Insect has its mandibles en- 

 gaged; they are holding the pellet of mortar 

 Intended for the blocking-operation. As the 

 extractlng-tool is not free, the extraction does 

 not take place. I expected to see the Bee re- 

 linquish her mortar and then proceed to re- 

 move the encumbrance. A dab of mortar 

 more or less Is not a serious business. I had 

 already noticed that it takes my Mason-bees a 

 journey of three or four minutes to collect one. 

 The pollen-expeditions last longer, a matter 

 of ten or fifteen minutes. To drop her pellet, 

 grab the straw with her mandibles, now disen- 

 gaged, remove It and gather a fresh supply of 

 cement would entail a loss of five minutes at 

 most. The Bee decides differently. She will 

 not, she cannot relinquish her pellet; and she 

 uses it. No matter that the larva will perish 

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