21 8 THE LIFE OF THE BEE 



Among other Apiens, this groping idea assumes other 

 forms. .The Chahcodomse of the outhouses, which are build- 

 ing-bees, the Dasypods and Halicti, which dig holes in the 

 earth, unite in large colonies to construct their nests. But 

 it is an illusory crowd composed of solitary units, that possess 

 no mutual understanding, and do not act in common. Each 

 one is profoundly isolated in the midst of the multitude, and 

 builds a dwelling for itself alone, heedless of its neighbour. 

 " They are," M. Perez remarks, " a mere congregation of 

 individuals, brought together by similar tastes and habits, but 

 observing scrupulously the maxim of each one for itself; in 

 fact, a mere mob of workers, resembling the swarm of a hive 

 only as regards their number and zeal. Such assemblies merely 

 result from a great number of individuals inhabiting the same 

 locality." 



But when we come to the Panurgi, which are cousins 

 of the Dasypodae, a little ray of light suddenly reveals the 

 birth of a new sentiment in this fortuitous crowd. They 

 collect in the same way as the others, and each one digs its 

 own subterranean chambers ; but the entrance is common to 

 all, as also the gallery which leads from the surface of the 

 ground to the different cells. " And thus," M. Perez adds, 

 " as far as the work of the cells is concerned, each bee acts 

 as though she were alone ; but all make equal use of the 

 gallery that conducts to the cells, so that the multitude profit 

 by the labours of an individual, and are spared the time and 

 trouble required for the construction of separate galleries. It 

 would be interesting to discover whether this preliminary work 

 be not executed in common, by relays of females, relieving each 

 other in turn." 



