B. IX.] THE HISTORY OF ANIMALS. 271 



four baskets of comb have been taken. They do not lay up 

 any food like bees, but conceal themselves during the winter. 

 The greater number of them die, but it is not known whe- 

 ther all of them perish. There js never more than one ruler 

 in the nest as in the swarm of bees, or they w r ould divide 

 the nest. 



3. When some of the wild bees wander from the nest, they 

 turn aside to some material and form another nest, such as 

 are often seen on the surface of the soil, and in this they 

 work themselves out a ruler ; and when he is grown he goes 

 out and leads them with him to take possession of a nest, in 

 which they may dwell. No one has ever made any observa- 

 tion on the mode of sexual intercourse in the wild bee, nor on 

 the origin of their offspring. Among bees the drones and 

 kings have no stings, and some of the wasps also are without 

 stings, as it has been remarked already; but all the wild bees 

 appear to have stings, but more accurate inquiry should be 

 instituted as to the rulers, whether they have stings or not. 



CHAPTER XXX. 



THE humble bees produce their young under stones on the 

 surface of the ground in two or a few more cells. The com- 

 mencement of a kind of inferior honey is found in them. The 

 tenthredo is like the wild bee, but it is variegated, and as 

 broad as the bee. It is a dainty creature, and the only 

 one which resorts to kitchens, and enjoys fish and such like 

 things. It deposits its young under the earth like the 

 wasps. It is a very productive creature, and its nest is 

 much larger and longer than that of the wasp. This is the 

 nature of the work and economy of bees, wasps, and their 

 congeners. 



CHAPTER XXXI. 



1. IT has been already observed that we can distinguish a 

 difference in the dispositions of animals, especially in the 

 courage and cowardice, and then in their mildness and fierce- 

 ness, even in wild animals. The lion in his manner of feed- 

 ing is very cruel ; but when he is not hungry, and is full fed, 

 his disposition is gentle. He is not either jealous or suspi- 

 cious. He is fond of playing with and affectionate towards 

 those animals which have been brought up with him, and to 



