266 MEANS OF DEf-ENCE OF INSECTS. 



dyte, always in its cell under ground, biting the stems 

 at their base, which falling, bring thus their foliage 

 within its reach ^. 



The habitations of insects are also usually places of 

 retreat, which secure them from many of their enemies : 

 — but I have so fully enlarged upon this subject on a 

 former occasion'', that it would be superfluous to do 

 more than mention it here. 



I am now to lay before you some examples of the 

 contrivances, requiring skill and ingenuity, by which 

 our busy animals occasionally defend themselves from 

 the designs and attack of their foes. Of these I have 

 already detailed to you many instances, which I shall 

 not here repeat ; my history therefore w ill not be very 

 prolix. — I observed in my account of the societies of 

 wasps, that they place sentinels at the mouth of their 

 nests. The same precaution is taken by the hive-bees, 

 particularly in the night, Avhen they may expect that 

 the great destroyers of their combs. Tinea mcUonella^ F. 

 and its associates'^, will endeavour to make their way 

 into the hive. Observe them by moonlight, and you 

 will see the sentinels pacing about with their antennae 

 extended, and alternately directed to the right and left. 

 In the mean time the moths flutter round the entrance ; 

 and it is curious to see with what art they know how to 

 profit of the disadvantage that the bees, which cannot 

 discern objects but in a strong light, labour under at that 

 time. But should they touch a moth with these organs of 

 nice sensation, it falls an immediate victim to their just 

 anger. The moth, however, seeks to glide between the 



» Fab. Enl. Sijst. Em. iii. 70. 200. " Vol. I. 2d Ed. 43-l>— 



"ibid. 166. 



