234 HOME LIFE ON AN OSTRICH FARM. 



laid by one of these birds, which, taking him under his 

 protection in the usual business-like and patronizing 

 manner, led him by a most roundabout route, and at 

 last, with many fussy demonstrations, conducted him 

 triumphantly to our own beehiv^e, close to the house. 

 Then he perched on a little bush from whence he could 



contemplate the bees ; and T called me out to look 



at him as he sat chirping, immensely contented with 

 himself, and scolding us loudly for our neglect of duty. 



Among the numerous enemies of bees the pretty bird 

 called the bee-eater is one of the most destructive ; and 

 wherever there is a hive or a nest several of these birds 

 are almost sure to be seen, darting about swiftly and 

 catching the poor little insects on the wing. A large 

 kind of hornet is also continually on the watch for 

 bees, which he slays apparently out of pure spite ; and 

 last, though by no means least, a horrid little red 

 scorpion-like creature invades the hive itself, killing 

 many of the inmates. 



A large moth resembling the death's-head often 

 takes up its abode in bees' nests, betraying its pre- 

 sence by a peculiar plaintive sound, and apparently 

 living in a perfectly friendly and peaceful manner with 

 its hosts. The natives, however, and indeed also many 

 of the colonists, stand in great awe of it, as they 

 imagine it to be possessed of a most deadly sting. 

 Throughout the whole country one hears accounts of 

 men, oxen, etc., being killed by this terrible moth ; and 



T , wishingr to investio^ate the matter and find out 



whether there were any truth in the tale, sent several 



