<}5(> 0N THE ECONOMY OF BEES. 



Bee* ncrt only It has been remarked by Mr. John Hunter, that the mat- 



their thighs, ter which bee^ carry on their thighs is the farina 'of plants, 



tut other mat- tvith wliich they feed their young, and not the substance with 



which they make their combs ; and his statement is., I believe, 



perfectly correct: but I have observed, that they will also 



carry other things on their thighs. I frequently covered the 



decorticated parts of trees, on which I, was making experi- 



A compound ments, with a cement composed of bees-wax and turpentine; 



of wax and. an d in the autumn I have frequently observed a great num- 



takenthusby ber of bees employed in carrying off this substance. They 



them, detached it from the tree with their forceps, and the little 



portion thus obtained was then transferred by the first to the 



second leg, by wliich it was deposited on the thigh of the 



third: the farina of plants is collected and transferred in the 



and used as a same manner. This mixture of wax and turpentine did not, 



c«ment. however, appear to have been employed in the formation of 



combs; but only to attach the hive to the board on which it 



was placed, and probably to exclude other insects, and air 



\ during winter. Whilst the bees were employed in the collec- 



fhe" bee Very tion of this substance, I had many opportunities of observing 



patient as an the peaceful and patient disposition of them as individuals, 

 individual. r . i i 



which Mr. Hunter has also, in some measure notked. When 



one bee had collected its load, and was just prepared to take 

 flight, another often came behind it, and despoiled it of all it 

 had collecied. A second, and even a third, load was col- 

 lected and lost in the same manner, and still the patient in- 

 sect pursued its labour, without betraying any symptoms of 

 impatience or resentment. When, however, the hive is ap- 

 proached, the bee appears often to be the most irritable of 

 all animals; but a circumstance I have observed amongst 

 another species of insects, whose habits are in many respects 

 similar to those of bees, induces me to believe, that the rea- 

 diness of the bees, to attack those who approach their hives, 

 docs not in any degree spring either from the sense of injury 

 or apprehensions of the individual, who makes the attack. 

 Wilsps similar If a nest of wasps be approached without alarming its in ha- 

 in their habits, hitants, and all communication be suddenly cut off between 

 those out of the nest, and those within it, no provocation 

 will induce the former to defend their nest, or themselves. 



Buft 



