94 Anecdotes of Natural History. 



bling in its last retreat from the contest, until it gained the wall, 

 against which it rubbed itself, as if to remove some offensive mat- 

 ter from its body. It appeared to experience great difficulty in 

 retaining its hold on the wall, from which it frequently fell, sus- 

 pended by one limb. At length it appeared to recover, and re- 

 mained quiet. In the mean time, the bug ceased struggling, and 

 merely emitted its light; the web soon gave way, and it escaped. 

 These facts were observed by me with great interest, and occur- 

 red as I have represented them." 



Case of a Bee, Self-decapitated. — We paid a very interesting 

 visit a short time ago, to a gentleman, who is a keen observer of 

 nature, and whose great experience in apiaries has not only been 

 productive of much curious information, relating to the economy 

 of bees, but which has been directly useful to numerous persons, 

 who maintain apiaries, in order to supply our markets with honey. 

 This anecdote was related to us, whilst examining his well con- 

 structed hives. Editor. 



"A large humble-bee, strayed near to one of his hives, and 

 alighted near the entrance. Instantly he was attacked by great 

 numbers of bees. One of them, seeking a favourable oppor- 

 tunity of lodging his sting under one of the rings of the hum- 

 ble-bee, made a fierce blow : but the sting striking upon the hard 

 and bright corslet, glanced off; and as it is the habit of the bee 

 in the act of striking, to bend the head towards the tail, the 

 sting, upon this occasion, entered deeply into its own head. After 

 many powerful exertions to extricate it, at length the entire head 

 came off, and remained attached to the tail. TJie insect now 

 gravely with its feelers, began to paw about his neck, as if to 

 examine the nature of the accident which had occurred to it, 

 spinning round, and feeling, and then stopping for awhile. In 

 about twenty minutes the insect was exhausted and died. 



TTie Rattle-snake. — Dr. Harlan exhibited the following experi- 

 ment to Capt. Basil Hall, and some gentlemen. He severed the 

 head from a rattle-snake, and afterwards grasping the part of the 

 neck adhering to the head, with his thumb and finger, the head 

 twisted itself by violent movements, and endeavoured to strike 

 him with its fangs. Afterwards, a live rabbit was presented to 

 the head, whirh immediately plunged its fangs into the rabbit 

 very deep. Dr. H. then asked Capt. Hall to take hold of the 



