Reflections upon Insect Psychology- 

 cotton remain clinging to the walls of the 

 cells: the Bees remove them carefully and 

 dart away to a distance, as usual, to get rid 

 of them. At last, a little sooner or a little 

 later, the egg is laid and the lid fastened on. 



I break open the five closed cells. In one, 

 the egg has been laid on three millimetres of 

 honey ;^ in two, on one millimetre;- and, in 

 the two others, it is placed on the side of the 

 receptacle drained of all its contents, or, to be 

 more accurate, having only the glaze, the var- 

 nish left by the friction of the honey-covered 

 cotton. 



The inference Is obvious : the Bee does not 

 judge of the quantity of honey by the eleva- 

 tion of the surface; she does not reason like 

 a geometrician, she does not reason at all. 

 She accumulates so long as she feels within 

 her the secret Impulse that prompts her to go 

 on collecting until the victualling Is com- 

 pleted; she ceases to accumulate when that 

 impulse Is satisfied. Irrespective of the result, 

 which In this case happens to be worthless. 

 No mental faculty, assisted by sight. Informs 

 her when she has enough, when she has too 



^.117 inch. — Translator's Note. 

 2.039 inch. — Translator's Note. 



187 



