78 BEES. 



Stings, obliged him to march with more ex- 

 pedition; but the stupid creature, instead 

 of retreating, thought to save himself by- 

 going forwards, and he advanced into the 

 very middle of the hive ; upon which a 

 whole troop of Bees fastened upon him at 

 once, and he immediately expired under 

 their strokes. The conquerors were then in 

 no little perplexity how to get rid of the car- 

 cass, and a council was instantly held upon 

 that occasion. 



From first to last, the most experienced 

 sages among them reasoned in this manner: 

 To drag the carcass out by main strength, 

 is an impossibility ; the mass is much too 

 unwieldy, and beside, the body is fixed to 

 the floor of the hive by its own glue ; and 

 to leave it where it lies, would be very in- 

 convenient, because it W'Ould prove an allur- 

 ing regale to the common flies, and at the 

 same time be liable to corruption and worms ; 

 and those worms, when they have devoured 

 the snail, will infallibly ascend to the comb, 

 and attack the young Bees. The damage 

 was e\ident, and required an immediate 

 remedy ; but you w ill hardly guess the 



