A BEE-HUNTER 161 



notes record' that a Philanthus sacrificed six bees in 

 succession before my eyes, and emptied them all of 

 honey in the approved manner. The killing came to 

 an end not because the glutton was satiated, but because 

 my functions as provider were becoming troublesome ; 

 the dry month of August leaves but few insects in the 

 flowerless garden. Six bees emptied of their honey — 

 what a gluttonous meal ! Yet the famishing creature 

 would doubtless have welcomed a copious addition 

 thereto had I had the means of furnishing it ! 



We need not regret the failure of bees upon this 

 occasion ; for what I have already written is sufficient 

 testimony of the singular habits of this murderer of bees. 

 I am far from denying that the Philanthus has honest 

 methods of earning its living ; I see it among the flowers, 

 no less assiduous than the rest of the Hymenoptera, 

 peacefully drinking from their cups of nectar. The 

 male, indeed, being stingless, knows no other means of 

 supporting himself. The mothers, without neglecting 

 the flowers as a general thing, live by brigandage as well. 

 It is said of the Labba, that pirate of the seas, that it 

 pounces upon sea-birds as they rise from the waves with 

 captured fish in their beaks. With a blow of the beak 

 delivered in the hollow of the stomach, the aggressor 

 forces the victim to drop its prey, and promptly catches 

 it as it falls. The victim at least escapes with nothing 

 worse than a blow at the base of the neck. The Philan- 

 thus, less scrupulous, falls upon the bee, stabs it to death 

 and makes it disgorge in order to nourish herself upon 

 its honey. 



Nourish, I say, and I do not withdraw the expression. 

 To support my statement I have better reasons than 



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