PERFECT SOCIETIES Ol? INSECTS. 209 



being' presentcJ to tliem, affected them in the same 

 manner'^. This circumstance may scmietimes occasion 

 battles amongst them, that are not otherwise easy to be 

 accounted for- 



Anger is no useless or hurtful passion in bees; it is 

 necessary to them for the preservation of themselves 

 and their property, which, besides those of their own 

 species, are exposed to the ravages of numerous ene- 

 mies. Of these I have already enumerated several of 

 the class of insects, and also some beasts and birds that 

 have a taste for bees and their produce''. The Merops 

 Apkistcr (which has been taken in England), the lark 

 and other birds catch them as they ily. Even the frog 

 and the toad are said to kill great numbers of bees; 

 and many that fall into the water probably become the 

 prey of fish. The mouse also, especially the field- 

 mouse, in winter ofljcn commits great ravages in a hive, 

 i f the base and orifices are not well secured and stopped '^. 

 Thorley once lost a stock by mice, Miiich made a nest 

 and produced young amongst the combs''. The tit- 

 mouse, according to the same author, will make a noise 

 at the door of the hive, and when a bee comes out to 

 see what is the matter, will seize and devour it. He 

 has known them eat a dozen at a time. The swallows 

 will assemble round the hives and devour them like 

 grains of corn''. 1 need only mention spiders, in whose 

 webs they sometimes meet with their end, and ear- 

 wigs and ants, which creep into the hive and steal the 

 honey ^. 



* ii. 386— " Vol. I. 2d Ed. 164, and 280. 288. 



■^ Schirach, 52. " UO. » Reaum. v. 7J0. 'Thorley, 111. 



TOL. II. V 



