Hornets. 179 



cloud of bees whose ire you have aroused, the only 

 safe place is a hedge or bush, into which make haste 

 to thrust yourself, when the boughs and leaves will 

 baffle them. If the hive be moved to a different 

 place, the bees that chance at the time to be out in 

 the fields collecting honey, upon their return, finding 

 their home gone, are evidently at a loss. They fly 

 round, hovering about over the spot for a long time 

 before they discover the fresh position of the hive. 



The great hornet, with its tinge of reddish-orange, 

 comes through the garden sometimes with a heavj 7 " 

 buzz, distinguishable in a moment from the sound 

 of any other insect. All country folk believe the 

 hornet's sting to be the most poisonous and painful 

 of any, and will relate instances of persons losing the 

 use of their arms for a few days in consequence of 

 the violent inflammation. Sometimes the hornet 

 selects for its nest an aperture in an old shed near 

 the farmhouse. I have seen their nests quite close 

 to houses ; but, unless wantonly disturbed, there is 

 not the slightest danger from them, or indeed from 

 any other insects of this class. I think the common 

 hive-bees are the worst tempered of any they re- 

 sent the slightest interference with their motions. 

 The hornet often chooses an old hollow withy-pollard 

 for the site of its nest. 



In the orchard there is at least one nest of the 

 humble-bee, made at a great depth in a deserted 

 mouse's hole. These bees have eaten away and re- 

 moved the grass just round the entrance, so as to get 

 a clear road in and out. They are as industrious as 

 the hive-bee ; but, as there are not nearly so many 

 working together in one colony, they do not store up 



