CH. IV. J THE HIVE BEE. 77 



fering in colour from the rest, and supposed to be 

 monstrous, have also been observed to be relent- 

 lessly massacred. 



It is not, however, by force alone that these crea- 

 tures defend their properties and hives ; they possess 

 invention enough to rear regular fortifications for 

 protection. Huber once discovered that great 

 ravages had been committed upon his own hives, 

 and he also learned from all quarters, that a similar 

 calamity had befallen those of his neighbours. At 

 length it was found, that the destruction which had 

 taken place had been caused by that gigantic moth, 

 called the Sphinx Atropos, or Death's Head. How 

 an animal apparently so defenceless should have 

 dared to enter, and then to do what it was found to 

 have done, is still a matter of surprise. It is con- 

 jectured by Huber, that the sound which it emits 

 produces effects on the bees similar to that of the 

 queen ; and thus disarms them of the power of re- 

 sisting its depredations. It is clear, however, that 

 in the daylight, which is unnatural to the sphinx, 

 the bees can kill it ; at least, they did so in an ex- 

 periment made by Huber. 



As the enterprises of the sphinx became more 

 and more fatal to the bees, Huber determined to 

 construct a grating which should admit a bee, but 

 not the moth. He did so, and the devastation 

 ceased. But what is extraordinary, he found that 

 in other hives, not protected by human ingenuity, 

 the bees had adopted a very similar expedient for 

 their own defence ; and to add still more to the won- 

 der, these defences were not alike, but variously 

 constructed in different hives. 



" Here, was a single wa.ll whose opening arcades 

 were disposed in its higher parts : there, were seve- 

 ral bulwarks behind each other, like the bastions of 

 our citadels ; gateways, masked by walls in front, 

 opened on the face of the second row, while they 

 did not correspond with the apertures of the first 

 G g 



