496 INSTINCT OF INSECT*. 



but not to increase that number. Bees cemented their 

 combs when becoming heavy, to the top of the hive, with 

 raitys, in the time of Aristotle and Piiny as they do now : 

 and tliere is every reason to believe that then, as noM , 

 they occasionally varied their procedures, by securin*; 

 them with wax or with propolis only, either added to 

 the upper range of cells, or disposed in braces and ties 

 to the adjoining combs. But if in thus proceeding they 

 were guided by reason, why not under certain circum- 

 stances adopt other modes of strengthening their combs ? 

 Why not, when wax and propolis are scarce, employ 

 mud^ which they might see the swallow avail herself of 

 60 successfully ? Or why should it not come into the 

 head of some hoary denizen of the hive, that a little of 

 the mortar with which his careful master plasters the 

 crevices between his habitation and its stand, might 

 answer the end of mitys ? " Si seulement ils elevoient 

 une fois des cabanes quarrees," (says Bonnet when 

 speaking as to what faculty the works of the beaver are 

 to be referred,) " mais ce sont eternellement des ca- 

 banes rondes ou ovales** :" — and so we might say of the 

 phenomena in question : — Show us J)ut one instance of 

 bees having substituted mud or mortar for mitys, pis- 

 soceros, or propolis, or wooden props for waxen ties, 

 and there could be no doubtof their being here guided 

 by reason. But since no such instance is on record ; 

 since they are still confined to the same limits — however 

 surprising the range of these Jimits — as they were two 

 thousand years ago ; and since the bees emerged from 

 their pupae but a few hours before will set themselves 

 as adroitly to work and pursue their operations as sci- 



^ Q^uvras, ix. 159. 



