INSTINCTS OF NEUTER INSECTS. 235 



may be supposed to be a very thorough acquaintance ; 

 in like manner, and with the same limitation, they 

 would know from the very moment that they left the 

 queen's body that neuter bees had a proboscis to gather 

 honey with, and cavities in their thighs to put wax into, 

 and that cells were to be made with certain angles — 

 for surely it is not crediting the queen with more 

 knowledge than she is likely to possess, if we suppose 

 her to have a fair acquaintance with the phenomena of 

 wax and cells generally, even though she does not make 

 any ; they would know (while still larvae — and earlier) 

 the kind of cells into which neuter bees were commonly 

 put, and the kind of treatment they commonly received 

 —they might therefore, as eggs — immediately on find- 

 ing their recollection driven from its usual course, so 

 that they must either find some other course, or die — 

 know that they were being treated as neuter bees are 

 treated, and that they were expected to develop into 

 neuter bees accordingly ; they might know all this, and 

 a great deal more into the bargain, inasmuch as even 

 before being actually deposited as eggs they would 

 know and remember potentially, but unconsciously, all 

 that their parents knew and remembered intensely. Is 

 it, then, astonishing that they should adapt themselves 

 so readily to the position which they know it is for the 

 social welfare of the community, and hence of them- 

 selves, that they should occupy, and that they should 

 know that they will want a cavity in their thighs and 

 a proboscis, and hence make such implements out of 

 their protoplasm as readily as they make their 

 wings ? 



