44 DAYS IN DOVE DALE 



companion than I heard a strange humming 

 in the air that sounded like distant music. 

 Looking up, I found myself beneath a wide- 

 spreading sycamore, and looking down I was 

 surprised to see the ground covered with dead 

 and dying bumble-bees. 



I wonder if any of my apiarian readers 

 can explain to me the cause of this strange 

 slaughter. Had they over-laden themselves 

 with honey, or been surfeited or poisoned by 

 it ? Or, had some envious wasps or bees 

 robbed them of their spoils, and then done 

 them to death ? 



" Sic vos non vobis mellificatis, apes" not 

 for yourselves do ye gather honey, O ye foolish 

 bumble-bees ! Or when ye consume it your- 

 selves it seems you become intoxicated, tumble 

 helplessly on the flinty road, break your backs 

 or necks, and so perish ! 



You see, I have lived so long in the great 

 city that all such little things as these, which 

 are beneath the notice of country people, are 

 novel and curious to me. 



July 3ist. Now is the winter of my discon- 

 tent made glorious summer ; Jupiter Pluvius 

 has given place to sunshine, and in the evening 



