Page 142 - For Men of Understanding

AMAZING ARCHITECTS

I n the previous pages, we reviewed the wondrous features of the hon-
eybee. We saw how the bee colony constructs the great architectural
wonder of the hive, the intricate and subtle plans they employ while
constructing it, and the jobs they automatically perform, which are quite hard
even for men.
As mentioned previously, bees are able to do this extraordinarily hard work
not because they are cleverer than men, but because they are "inspired" so.
Otherwise, it would not be possible for thousands of unconscious animals to
accomplish such a hard and complicated operation, which needs control and
supervision from one centre.
However, bees are not the only excellent architects in nature. In the fol-
lowing pages, we will look at other animals, which very skilfully overcome very
complicated and difficult "construction" works, as difficult as that of the bees.
These animals, just like the bees, use the knowledge "inspired" in them and
construct architectural wonders by the help of some interesting qualities given
to them at their creation.
Beavers are the first among the excellent architects in nature that come to
mind. These animals build their lodges in stationary ponds, but these ponds are
special in being artificially formed by dams beavers build over the stream.
Beavers set about building a dam in order to block the stream and form a
stationary pond in which they can build a lodge for themselves. For this pur-
pose, they first push thick branches down into the stream-bed. Then they heap
up relatively thinner ones over those heavier ones. They are yet faced with the
problem that the running water might take this mass of branches away. Unless
the dam is clamped tight to the streambed, the running water would soon dam-
age the dam. The best thing to do to prevent the dam from being ruined by
the water is to drive stakes into the streambed and to build the dam on these
stakes. For this reason, beavers use large stakes as main buttresses when they
build their dam. They, however, do not bother to drive these stakes into the
streambed, but fix these stakes in the water by weighing them down with
stones. Lastly, they fasten the branches they have piled up with a special mor-
tar they make from clay and dead leaves. This mortar is water-resistant and is
very firm against the corrosive effect of water.

140 For Men of Understanding