144 TENANTS OF AN OLD FARM. 



" Yes, sir," answered the boy Avith alacrity. " There's 

 one just beyond here in a big tussock on the edge of the 

 swamp-grass. Joe and I found it las' July, when they 

 was a-niowin'." 



" And resisted the temptation to clean it out ? That 

 was a marvelous example of self-denial for a growing 

 boy. How did it happen ?" 



" AVe did mean to fight it, and was jest gettin' ready 

 when father 'lowed ef we 'd Avait till frost come we 'd 

 have the nest without gettin' stung. But that wasn't 

 the reason zactly," added the lad. "J don't mind bee- 

 stings much, though some folks 's mighty feard uv 'em. 

 Here 's the nest, sir." 



Harry had well described the site, which is indeed a 

 favorite one for these insects, who love to burrow in 

 moist, low mcadoAV land, near a great tuft of grass or 

 tussock. Yet they give themselves a good deal of lati- 

 tude in the choice of their subterranean homes, and 

 often aflfect a grassy bank or laAvn. 



Harry pushed aside the grass and showed us the 

 entrance or gate to the cave — a round hole half an inch 

 in diameter. The droning huzz-z-zz I of a bee's wings 

 warned us that one of the workers appi'oaehed her nest. 

 Slie circled around us cautiously and somewdiat ex- 

 citedly. There was a groAving sharpness in the note of 

 her hum which warned the Doctor to start back and 

 pull tlie limp brim of his hat about his ears. Harry 

 laughed, and sat still, simply Avillidrawing his hand 

 from the opening. The bee gradually narrowed the 

 circles of her tlight, and after a few turns above the 



