Reflections upon Insect Psychology- 

 let of mortar; and the idea, the wish to un- 

 fasten them will never occur to the insect un- 

 til the pellet has fulfilled its purpose. And 

 here is a still greater absurdity: the plugging 

 once begun is very carefully finished with fresh 

 relays of mortar! Exquisite attention is paid 

 to a closing-up which is henceforth useless; no 

 attention at all to the dangerous beam. O lit- 

 tle gleams of reason that are said to enlighten 

 the animal, you are very near the darkness, 

 you are naught! 



Another and still more eloquent fact will 

 finally convince whoso may yet be doubting. 

 The ration of honey stored up in a cell is evi- 

 dently measured by the needs of the coming 

 larva. There is neither too much nor too lit- 

 tle. How does the Bee know when the proper 

 quantity is reached? The cells are more or 

 less constant in dimension, but they are not 

 filled completely, only to about two-thirds of 

 their height. A large space is therefore left 

 empty; and the victualler has to judge of the 

 moment when the surface of the mess has at- 

 tained the right level. The honey being per- 

 fectly opaque, its depth is not apparent. I 

 have to use a sounding-rod, when I want to 

 gauge the contents of the jar; and I find, on 

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