156 



PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 



bage of the low country has become parched, the proprietor 

 of the hives, after closing them, conveys them (six or seven 

 being an ass load) to some village in the neighbouring moun- 

 tains where fragrant shrubs abound ; and having sealed the 

 doors, leaves them in charge of a villager, whom he pays for 

 watching them when he removes them in October back to his 

 home. Near villages in the mountains of Sahund, in the vi- 

 cinity of Tabreez, Mr. Willock has seen ranges of these hives 

 thus put out to board to the number of 500 or 600. 1 



John Hunter observes, that when the season for laying is 

 over, that for collecting honey comes on (he means, probably, 

 for making the principal collection of it) ; and that when the 

 last pupa is disclosed, the cell it deserts, after being cleaned, 

 is immediately filled with it, and as soon as full is covered 

 with pure wax : but this only holds with respect to the cells 

 containing honey for winter use, those destined to receive that 

 which forms their food when bad weather prevents them from 

 going out being left open. 2 Sometimes, when the year is re- 

 markably favourable for collecting honey, the bees will destroy 

 many of the larvae to make room for it ; but they never meddle 

 with the pupae. When no more honey is to be collected, 

 they remain quiet in the hive for the winter. Mr. Hunter 

 found that a hive grew lighter in a cold than in a warm week ; 

 he found also that in three months (from November 10th to 

 February 9 th) a single hive lost 72 oz. 1| dram. 3 



Water is a thing of the first necessity to these insects ; but 

 they are not very delicate as to its quality, but rather the 

 reverse ; often preferring what is stagnant and putrescent to 

 that of a running stream. 4 I have frequently observed them 

 busy in corners moist with urine ; perhaps this is for the sake 

 of the saline particles to be there collected. 



A new-born bee, as soon as it is able to use its wings, 

 seems perfectly aware, without any previous instruction, what 

 are to be its duties and employments for the rest of its life. 

 It appears to know that it is born for society, and not for 

 selfish pursuits ; and therefore it invariably devotes itself and 



1 Gardener's Chronicle, 1841, p, 84. 



2 Philos. Trans. 1792, 160. Comp. Reaum. v. 450. 



3 Reaum. ibid. 591. Hunter, ibid. 161. 4 Reaum. ibid. 697. 



