18 r.y.Ks 



getlier, Mr. W. observed throug'li the window of the box 

 that they had constructed two horizontal pillars betwixt 

 the combs alluded to, and had removed so miicb of the 

 honey and wax from the top of each as to allow the passag-e 

 of a bee : in about ten days more there was an uninterrupted 

 thoroug'hfare — the detached comb at its upper part had been 

 secured by a strong- barrier, and fastened to the window 

 with the spare wax. This being accomplished, the bees re- 

 moved the horizontal pillars first constructed, as being of no 

 further use. 



The power of adapting* the construction of their habitation 

 to suit accidental circumstances is not confined to bees alone, 

 A most excellent observer, Mr. Smee, exhibits in his ^' In- 

 stinct and Reason," a very singular instance of this power in 

 a species of wasp. In that work is figured the nest of a 

 wasp, which had been fixed to the branch of a tree. The 

 inhabitants had already completed six tiers of cells (the 

 combs of wasps, it must be remembered, are horizontal in- 

 stead of vertical), when, from some reason, the branch gave 

 way, and threw the entire nest out of the horizontal line 

 In this predicament the wasps abandoned the hnes on which 

 the first six tiers were built, and commenced a fresh series of 

 combs, the openings of which opened towards the ground as 

 the former set had done before the accident. The conse- 

 quence is that the nest being composed of nine tiers of cells, 

 the last three are built at right angles with the first six, 

 forming as curious and instructive an example of the adapting 

 powers of insect instinct as can be imagined. 



But the bees wait not for the completion of their grand 

 palace to use it ; as soon as a few cells are ready, in come 

 the honey bearers. Each makes his way to a finished 

 chamber, goes as deep into it as he can, opens a hole with 

 liis feet in the cream-like crust which the bees have formed 

 for the defence of the honey, and so discharges the honey 

 into the cell throug-h his open mouth. His burden gone, off 

 he flies; others "take his place; drop by drop the cell is 

 filled, and then closed so perfectly that tlie honey will re- 

 main good in them for many years. But all the honey 

 thus brought home is not stored. The bringers have been 

 feeding themselves while collecting, but the poor hard- 

 working artisans in the hive have nothing to eat, unless 



