344 ^^^ INSECT WORLD. 



electricity in the air are favourable to the secretion of pollen in 

 plants, that the bees go into the fields to make their harvest. They 

 heap up provisions in the hive against the cold season, not forgetting, 

 however, to watch over the eggs, their future hope, " spem gentis," 

 as Virgil calls them. 



These peaceful occupations are sometimes interrupted by the dire 

 necessities of war. It happens that the bees of an impoverished hive, 

 impelled by hunger, that bad counsellor, make up their mind to ; 

 attack and to pillage the treasures of a neighbouring hive which is 

 abundantly stocked with provisions. A savage fight then takes place 

 between the two battalions. Each one precipitates itself with fury 

 upon its adversary. Two bees press against and bite each other till 

 one is overcome. The victor springs upon the back of the van- 

 quished, squeezes it round the neck with its mandibles, and pierces 

 it between the rings of its abdomen with its sting. The victorious 

 bee places itself by the side of its fallen enemy, and resting on four 

 of its legs, rubs its two hind ones together proudly, as a sign of 

 supreme triumph. Reaumur relates a strange fact, which he says he 

 often observed, and which proves that the insects we are treatmg of 

 do not fight to satisfy a sanguinary and savage instinct, but (which 

 is less reprehensible) to satisfy their hunger. Bees attacked by a 

 superior force are in no danger of losing their lives if their enemies 

 can induce them to give up their throats — that expression conveys 

 the idea. Supposing three or four are furiously attacking one bee : 

 they are pulling it by its legs and biting it on its thorax. The 

 unfortunate object of this attack has then nothing better to do, to 

 escape alive from such a perilous situation, than to stretch out its 

 trunk laden with sweet-scented honey. The plunderers will come 

 one after the other and drink the honey; then, cloyed, satisfied, 

 having nothing more to demand, they go their way, leaving the bee 

 to return to his dwelling-place. 



There are also strange fights — regular duels — between the bees o: 

 the same hive. Very hot weather has the effect of irritating them 

 and making them boil over with rage. They are then dangerous tc 

 man, whom they attack boldly. But more often it is amongst them 

 selves that they quarrel. One often sees two bees which meet seizf 

 each other by the neck in the air. It happens also that a bee, in i 

 state of fury, throws itself on another who is walking quietly anc 

 unsuspiciously along the edge of its hive. When two bees art 

 struggling in this manner they descend to the ground, for in the ai 

 they would not be able to get purchase enough to be sure of striking 

 each other. They then engage in a hand-to-hand fight, as th( 



