462 Proceedings of Learned Societies. 



ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY.— June 6, 



Artificial Modification of Wasps' Nests, and Intelligence in 

 the Honey-Bee. — Mr. Smith, of the British Museum, exhibited a 

 very curious series of boxes. These "were from eight to ten inches 

 in height and width, and had either on one or two sides glass, as in 

 cases intended for stuffed animals. Inside of these there were 

 wasps' nests, which were most singular in their arrangement. Some 

 looked like the pillars of a cathedral, others reminded the spectator 

 of limestone caverns, and a third called up decided reminiscences 

 of Stoneheuge. These remarkable structures had been formed in 

 each case by one set of wasps. They had been sent for the in- 

 spection of the society by Mr. Stone. He found that he could 

 ensure the construction of wasps' nests wherever he chose to make 

 chambers in the earth suitable for the queen wasp to build in. 

 When a nest has been made, he takes it from the earth, puts it 

 in one of the boxes prepared for its reception, and allows the wasps 

 to work in it as long as he wishes, which is generally only a few 

 days. The precise manner in which he determines the plan of their 

 building was not mentioned. It appeared, however, that wires 

 formed the foundation of the architecture, and that the wasps sur- 

 rounded these with the masticated wood of which they construct 

 their nests. The forms obtained were ingenious and interesting. 



Mr. Tegetmeier described an example of intelligence in the 

 honey-bee which has hitherto escaped observation. It is well 

 known that a swarm of bees often take possession of an old tenant- 

 less hive filled with comb, having previously visited the hive and 

 cleaned away the refuse materials and damaged portions. On 

 placing a frame-hive, in which old combs had been artificially 

 attached, near a stock that was expected to throw off a swarm, it 

 was seen that the bees visited it, and that numerous "scales of 

 newly-secreted wax were found on the floor-board. This led to an 

 attentive examination of the combs, and it was discovered that 

 new white wax had been secreted in the empty hive, and that this 

 had been employed in repairing the combs, particularly in cement- 

 ing them more securely to the top of the hive, their attachment 

 being strengthened at that point where the greatest weight would 

 have to be sustained when the combs should be filled with young 

 brood, honey, and pollen. It appears an extraordinary instance of 

 foresight and intelligence, as distinct from unreasoning instinct, 

 that the bees, when proposing to send out a SAvarm to tenant a new 

 residence, should not only clean the hive, but send a relay of 

 worker-bees to cluster and secrete wax in order to strengthen the 

 combs at that part where the greatest weight will have to be 

 supported. 



flKOLOGICAL SOCIETY.— June 8. 



( >•; the Geological Structure of the Malvern Hills and Adja- 

 cent District. By Dr. Harvey B. Holl. — Tho object of this com- 



