[113] Huber, _Nouvelles observations sur les Abeilles_.

[114] These facts have recently been observed and recorded
afresh by Mr. Clifford in _Nature Notes_, January 1893.

_Precautions against inquisitiveness._--I will finally quote a fact of
defence which took place under circumstances that were absolutely
exceptional, and which therefore exhibits genuine reflection in these
insects. During the first exhibition of 1855 an artificial hive was
set up, one face of which was closed by a glass pane. A wooden shutter
concealed this pane, but passers-by opened it every moment to
contemplate the work of the small insects. Annoyed by this
inquisitiveness, the bees resolved to put an end to it, and cemented
the shutter with _propolis_. When this substance dried it was no
longer possible to open the shutter. The bees were visible to nobody.

[Illustration: FIG. 43.]

[Illustration: FIG. 44.]

_Lighting up the nests._--An improvement of another nature in the
comfort of the dwelling is introduced by the _Baya_, and if the facts
narrated are correct they are the most marvellous of all. It is a
question of lighting up a nest by means of Glow-worms. The
_Melicourvis baya_ inhabits India; it is a small bird related to the
_Loxia_, already spoken of in this book. Like the latter it constructs
a nest that is very well designed and executed. (Fig. 43.) It suspends
it in general from a palm tree, but sometimes also from the roofs of
houses. In these shelters, woven with extreme art, are always to be
found little balls of dry and hardened clay. Why does the bird amass
these objects? Is it impelled by a collector's instinct less perfect
than that of the Bower-bird? There is no reason to suppose this. Nor
does it appear that he wishes to make the nest heavier and prevent it
by this ballast from being blown about by every breeze when the couple
are out, and the young not heavy enough to ensure the stability of the
edifice. The part played by these little balls is much more
remarkable, if we may trust the evidence of the natives, as confirmed
by competent European observers. Thus Mr. H. A. Severn writes:--"I
have been informed on safe authority that the Indian Bottle-bird
protects his nest at night by sticking several of these glow-beetles
around the entrance by means of clay; and only a few days back an
intimate friend of my own was watching three rats on a roof-rafter of
his bungalow when a glow-fly lodged very close to them;