34:8 THE PHILOSOPHY 



are, therefore, under the neceility of collet^hig, and amafliii* 

 in cells deftined for that purpofe, large quantities of honey. 

 This fweet and balfamic liquor they extract:, by means of 

 their probofcis or trunk, from the nectariferous glands of 

 flowers; The trunk of a bee is a kind of rough cartilaginous 

 tongue. After collecting a few fmall drops of honey, the 

 animal with its probofcis conveys them to its mouth and 

 fwallows them. From the oefophagus or gullet, it paflcs in- 

 to the firft ftomach, which is more or lefs fwelled in propor- 

 tion to the quantity of honey it contains. When empty, it 

 has the appearance of a fine white thread : But, when filled 

 with honey, it affiimes the figure of an oblong bladder, the 

 membrane of which is fo thin and tranfparent, that it allows 

 the colour of the Hquor it contains to be diil:in£lly feen. 

 This bladder is well known to children who live in the coun- 

 try. They cruelly amufe themfelves with catching bees, 

 and tearing them afunder, in order to fuck the honey. A 

 fmgle flower furnifiies but a fmall quantity of honey. The 

 bees are, therefore, obliged to fly from one flower to anoth- 

 er till they fill their firft flomachs. When they have ac- 

 compliflied this purpofe, they return directly to the hive, 

 and difgorge in a cell the whole honey they have collected. 

 It not unfrequently happens, hov/ever, that, when on its way 

 to the hive, it is accofled by a hungry companion. Hov/ the 

 one can communicate its neceflity to the other, it is perhaps 

 impofiible to difcover. But the fadl is certain, that, v/hen 

 two bees meet in this fituation, they mutually flop, and the 

 one whofe ftomach is full of honey extends its trunk, opens 

 its mouth, which lies a little beyond the teeth, and like ru- 

 minating animals, forces up the honey into that cavity. The 

 hungry bee knows how to take advantage of this hofpitable 

 invitation. With the point of its trunk it fucks the honey 

 from the other's mouth. When not flopped on thd road, 

 the bee proceeds to the hive, and in the fame manner offers 

 its honey to thofe who are at work, as if it meant to prevent 



