THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 131 



with them, but simply placed the hive on the board with the 

 entrance towards the bees, and waited to see the result. 

 They continued to run about the table for about half a 

 minute as if bewildered, not knowing where to find the hive, 

 when I heard a peculiar vibrating and buzzing sound pro- 

 ceeding from the hive. In an instant all the bees faced 

 about, with their heads towards the hive ; and in half a 

 minute not a bee was to be seen upon the table, — they had 

 all marched into the hive in regular procession. The above 

 sound appears to have been produced by the queen summon- 

 ing her subjects to lake possession of the hive in its new 

 position, and they immediately responded to the call. — 

 IV. B. Clarke; 9, Marine Terrace^ North Shields, May 

 10, 1876. 



[This seems at variance with the observations of our best 

 observers, who deny to bees the sense of hearing. — Edward 

 New HI a )i.] 



A Red- Letter Day. — A red-letter day in this season of 

 black frosts, white frosts, persistent north-easters and clouds 

 of dust, is something to give us a little encouragement and 

 raise our drooping spirits. Time present offers nothing to 

 cheer the entomologist, for a long season to-morrow has not 

 failed to be like to-day, so that it seems almost useless to 

 look forward, — biting winds and chilling frosts still prevail. 

 We must, therefore, solace ourselves with a thought of the 

 past; and so a day which would not, in an ordinary spring, 

 Idc considered worthy of a chronicle, starts forth into vivid 

 remembrance, and seems to ask for a notice it would not 

 otherwise obtain. While penning this I am recalling April 

 4th, — a lovely day of an extremely pleasant week, — a day 

 reminding us of a line of Horace : — 



" Solvitur acris hj'ems, grata vice veris et Favoni." 

 The balminess of the atmosphere, after a succession of wind, 

 snow and hail, induced me to pay a visit to some sallows in 

 full blossom about four miles distant. Armed with lanterns, 

 boxes, and a wide- spreading dusting-sheet, I set forth with 

 three friends (two of whom are correspondents of yours — 

 Messrs. S. O. and H. N. Ridley) hoping for success, — at least 

 in the number of our captures, if not in their rarity. Nor 

 were we disappointed ; at every shake of the gold-coloured 

 branches numberless calkins, and almost as many moths. 



