The Theory of Parasitism 



displays a brutal Indifference to the fate of 

 her neighbour's egg. 



I see some of them afterward busy pro- 

 visioning, disgorging honey and brushing pol- 

 len Into the cell already completely provi- 

 sioned; I see some masoning a little at the 

 orifice, or at least laying on a few trowels of 

 mortar. It seems as if the Bee, although the 

 victuals and the building are just as they 

 should be, were resuming the work at the 

 point at which she left It twenty-four hours 

 before. Lastly, the egg Is laid and the open- 

 ing closed up. Of my captives, one, less pa- 

 tient than the rest, rejects the slow process of 

 eating away the cover and decides In favour 

 of robbery with violence, on the principle that 

 might is right. She dislodges the owner of a 

 half-stocked cell, keeps good watch for a long 

 time on the threshold of the home and, when 

 she feels herself the mistress of the house, 

 goes on with the provisioning. I follow the 

 ousted proprietress with my eyes. I see her 

 seize upon a closed cell by breaking into it and 

 behave in all respects like my imprisoned 

 Challcodomas. 



The whole occurrence was too significant 

 to be left without further confirmation. I 

 233 



