HYMENOPTERA. ACULEATA. 



of this step, broke down some of the combs. The 

 Bees, who had before been most quiet and harmless, 

 became so angry at the destruction of their work, that 

 they began a systematic war against all human beings, 

 getting more and more wicked every day, till at last we 

 could get nobody to work in the garden, or even to go 

 into it, and we were obliged to pick all the vegetables 

 for dinner ourselves, early in the morning, before the 

 Bees were regularly astir. They must have had very 

 little sleep, for early and late they were ready to fight, 

 and we were stung before half-past six in the morning, 

 and at past ten o'clock at night. They had scouts 

 constantly on the watch, and when we went into the 

 garden we were met by one Bee, who did not attack us 

 at once, but went off for a reinforcement, and then came 

 back to the assault. One of us got ten stings in one of 

 these encounters. 



" At last the Bees became so bold that they actually 

 came round to the hall door, and we began to think that 

 they must be exterminated, which, as they could not be 

 smothered in the usual way (the most mischievous being 

 those living under the stand), was at last effected by 

 three or four men with spades and hot water. 



" Our usual theory about Bees is, that if you let them 

 alone, they will let you alone ; but in this case, except 

 for the original offence of breaking their combs, their 

 attacks were quite unprovoked."* 



The Hive Bee, whether male, female, or neuter, is 

 distinguished not only from all other Bees, but from all 



* It is said that there is iu Mexico a species of stingless Honey-Bee 

 which goes by the name of Angelito, or Little Angel. Somewhat of a 

 contrast to our little Irish friends. 



