The Foundation of the City 



the friendly opening that restores their 

 liberty to them. 



The same naturalist cites yet another 

 proof of the bees' lack of intelligence, and 

 discovers it in the following quotation 

 from the great American apiarist, the 

 venerable and paternal Langstroth : — 



" As the fly was not intended to ban- 

 quet on blossoms, but on substances in 

 which it might easily be drowned, it 

 cautiously alights on the edge of any 

 vessel containing liquid food, and warily 

 helps itself; while the poor bee, plunging 

 in headlong, speedily perishes. The sad 

 fate of their unfortunate companions does 

 not in the least deter others who approach 

 the tempting lure from madly alighting 

 on the bodies of the dying and the dead, 

 to share the same miserable end. No one 

 can understand the extent of their infatua- 

 tion until he has seen a confectioner's 

 shop assailed by myriads of hungry bees. 

 147 



