236 THE INDUSTRIES OF ANIMALS. 



Separation of females while brooding. — The Hornbill 

 of Malacca^ assures the protection of its nest and of 

 the female while she is brooding in a singular manner. 

 She lays in the hollow of a tree; as soon as she begins 

 to sit on her eggs, the male doses the opening with 

 diluted clay, only leaving a hole through which the 

 captive can pass her beak to receive the fruits which 

 he brings her in abundance. If the lady is thus 

 cloistered as closely as in the most jealous harem, her 

 lord and master at least expends on her the most 

 attentive cares. 



What can be the object of this strange custom ? 

 It has been asserted that during incubation the female 

 loses her feathers and becomes unable to fly. The 

 male would thus only wall her up as a precaution for 

 fear of seeing her fall from the nest ; because if this 

 deplorable accident happened she would not be able 

 to get back again. It seems to me that the effect is 

 here taken for the cause, and that the falling off of 

 feathers and torpidity must be the result rather than 

 the motive of cloistration. One is tempted to believe 

 that the male desires by this method to guarantee his 

 female and her offspring against the attacks of squirrels 

 or rapacious birds. 



Hygienic measures of Bees. — Among the animals 

 who expend industry on hygiene and the protection 

 of their dwellings, we must place Bees in the first line. 

 It may happen that mice, snakes, and moths may 

 find their way into a hive. Assaulted by the swarm, 

 and riddled with stings, they die without being able to 

 escape. These great corpses cannot be dragged out 

 by the Hymenoptera, and their putrefaction threatens 



1 Bernstein, " Ueber Nester und Eier einiger Javaschen Vogel," 

 Cabani's Joiirn. f. Ornith., 1859. 



