3(54 APPENDIX. 



name which is there proposed for it is a just tribute to tiie ob- 

 server, to whom we owe the first opportunity possessed in Eu- 

 rope of becoming acquainted with its habits and economy. 



Some curious stories are related by the possessors as to the 

 manners of these bees, one of which deserves to be recorded. 

 They assert that at the entrance of each hive a sentinel is 

 placed to watch the outgoings and incomings of his fellows, 

 and that this sentinel is relieved at the expiration of twenty- 

 four hours, when another assumes his post and duties for the 

 same period. On the duration of this guard some doubts may 

 seasonably be entertained, but of its existence ample evidence 

 was obtained by repeated observation. At all times a single 

 bee was seen occupying the hole leading to the nest, who, on 

 the approach of another, withdrew himself within a small 

 cavity, apparently made for this purpose on the left-hand side 

 of the aperture, and thus allowed the passage of the indivi- 

 dual entering or quitting the hive ; the sentinel constantly re- 

 suming his station immediately after the passage had been 

 effected. That it was the same bee which had withdrawn 

 that ao-ain took his station in the opening, could not be mis- 

 taken ; for his withdrawal was only into the cavity on the side 

 of the hole, in which his head was generally in view during the 

 brief interval while the other was passing ; and that head 

 ao-ain immediately started forwards into the passage. During 

 how long a time the same individual remained on duty could 

 not be ascertained ; for although many attempts were made to 

 mark him, by introducing a pencil tipped with paint, he con- 

 stantly eluded the aim taken at him, and it was therefore im- 

 possible to determine with certainty whether the current 

 reports concerning him were or were not founded in fact. 

 With the paint thus attempted to be applied to the bee, the 

 mai'gin of the opening was soiled; and the sentinel, as soon as 

 he was free from the annoyance he suffered from the thrusts 

 repeatedly made at his body, approached the foreign substance 

 to taste it, and evidently disliking the material he withdrew 

 into his hive. The hole was watched to see what would be 

 the result of this investigation of the substance, and a troop 

 of bees was soon observed to advance towards the place, each 



