118 PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 



places in a strong light the good temper of the latter. 

 This happened in a time of scarcity. The hive-bees, 

 after pillaging, had taken almost entire possession of the 

 nest. Some humble-bees which remained in spite of this 

 disaster, went out to collect provisions ; and bringing 

 home the surplus after they had supplied their own im- 

 mediate wants, the hive-bees followed them, and did not 

 quit them till they had obtained the fruit of their labours. 

 They licked them, presented to them their proboscis, 

 surrounded them, and thus at last persuaded them to 

 part with the contents of their honey-bags. The humble- 

 bees after this flew away to collect a fresh supply. The 

 hive-bees did them no harm, and never once showed their 

 stings ; — so that it seems to have been persuasion rather 

 than force that produced this singular instance of self- 

 denial. This remarkable manoeuvre was practised for 

 more than three weeks ; when the wasps being attracted 

 by the same cause, the humble-bees entirely forsook the 

 nest*. 



The workers are the most numerous part of the com- 

 munity, but are nothing when compared with the num- 

 bers to be found in a vespiary or a beehive : — two or 

 three hundred is a large population for a humble-bees 

 nest ; in some species it not being more than fifty or 

 sixty. — They may more easily be studied than either 

 wasps or hive-bees, as they seem not to be disturbed or 

 interrupted in their works by the eye of an observer''. 



I am, &c. 



=> Ibid. 3/3-. 



'' This account ot" the proceedings of humble-bees is chiefly taken 

 from Reaumur, vi. Mem. 1. ; and M. P. Huber in Liiui. Trans, vi. 

 214— 



