33^ THE PHILOSOPHY 



with abfurdity, and of adling in direft oppofition to the conftitution 

 and frame of the human mind. 



I fliall now give feme examples of the operations of aflbciating 

 infeds, who conftrud habitations by exerting a common and a mu- 

 tual labour. 



The fkill and dexterity of the honey-bees, difplayed in the con- 

 ftrudion of their combs or nefts, have at all times called forth the 

 admiration of mankind. They are compofed of cells regularly ap- 

 plied to each others fides. Thefe cells are uniform hexagons or fix- 

 fidcd figures. In a bee-hive, every part is arranged with fuch fym- 

 metry, and fo finely finiflied, that, if limited to the fame materials, 

 the moft expert workman would find himfelf unqualified to conftrudt 

 a fimilar habitation, or rather a fimilar city. 



Moft Natural Hiftorians have celebrated bees for their wifdom, 

 for the perfection and harmony of their republican government, 

 and for their perfevering induftry and wonderful oeconomy. All 

 thefe fplendid talents, however, the late ingenious Count de Buflfon 

 has endeavoured to perfuade us, are only refults of pure mechanifm. 

 But this is not the proper place to enter into a difcuflion of this 

 point. It will fall more naturally to be treated of when we come 

 to defcribe the focieties eftablifhed among different gregarious ani- 

 mals. We fliall therefore, at prefent, confine ourfelves chiefly to 

 the mode in which bees conftrud their habitations. 



In the formation of their combs, bees feem to refolve a problem 

 which would not be a little puzzling to fome geometers, namely, 

 A quantity of wax being given, to make of it equal and fimilar 

 cells of a determined capacity, but of the largeft fize in proportion 

 to the quantity of matter employed, and difpofed in fuch a manner 



as 



