HYMENOPTERA. 



347 



do but ]to guard the door, to keep a watch over incomers and out- 

 goers, and to prevent an enemy or an intruder from sHpping into the 

 community. When one of them perceives an enemy on the borders 

 of the hive, it dashes forwards towards it, and by a menacing and 



Fig.'323.— Sentinel. Bees guarding the entrance to the hive. 



giiificant buzzing warns it to retire. It it does not understand the 

 aming, which is a rare occurrence — for men, horses, dogs, and 

 limals of all kinds know perfectly well the danger to which they 

 vpose themselves by approaching too near a hive in full operation"-" — 



* The bee's sting may lead to very serious consequences. It often happens 



