330 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Acadenvy. 
Although I am not yet prepared to identify the fish, crustaceans and 
mollusca, which are mentioned by our Greek authors, owing to the 
vagueness of the descriptions, I anticipate some success with them here- 
‘after, but am compelled to reserve that part of the subject for the 
present, and therefore pass now to the insects. 
INSECTS. 
29. Honsy (Meat). 
Apis dorsata(?)—Bees. Bonhra, Hin. 
Photios tells us, on the authority of Ktesias,” that ‘‘there is a 
certain river flowing with honey out of a rock, like the one we have in 
our own country.” 
I venture to think that this story may have possibly originated in 
the fact that the rocky gorges of many Indian rivers are the favourite 
haunts of wild bees. To those who know India, the famous marble 
rocks on the Narbada will suggest themselves; and all who have 
actually visited that remarkable gorge where the river is bounded by 
lofty cliffs of pure white marble, will remember the ladders which 
hang suspended from the summits, by which the honey-seekers descend 
to rob the combs. What more natural than that honey brought from 
such a spot should be made the object of a story like that related by 
Ktesias. 
Perhaps we may venture a step further, and suggest that the fol- 
lowing statement, by Strabo,”’ quoting from Megasthenes, had the same 
origin :—‘‘ Stones are dug up in India which are of the colour of frank- 
incense, and sweeter than figs or honey.” But the probability of some 
form of sugar-candy, the true origin of which was then unknown, 
having given rise to this story, should not be forgotten (¢f. p. 335). 
30. Tue Inpran Muruex (Mippné 6 “Ivd0s). 
Termes, Sp.(?)—Termites, or White Ants. 
The termites, or white ants, as distinguished from the gold-digging 
ants, receive special attention at the hands of Alan, whose account 
appears to have been derived from an author named Iobas. He says : 
<¢ Nor must we forget the Indian ant, which is so noted for its wisdom. 
The ants of our country do, no doubt, dig for themselves subterranean 
holes and burrows, and by boring provide themselves with lurking 
70 Ecloga in Photii, Bibl. Ixxii. 13 («ad roraudy pnow ex méeTpas péovta mer). 
71 Geographica, xv. ¢. 1, § 37. 
