THE NEST OCCUPIED BY BEES. 85 



young in security in a small aperture near the 

 portico of a house in Denbighshire, undisturbed by 

 the frequent passing and repassing of the inmates. 

 Unfortunately, on the 18th of June, 1843, a swarm 

 of bees discovered the aperture, which then con- 

 tained a brood of nestlings nearly fledged, and, by 

 buzzing in and out of it, and flying about the 

 entrance in large numbers, seemed determined to 

 dispossess the rightful owners. Whenever the 

 parent birds attempted to approach the spot for 

 the purpose of feeding their young, they were 

 instantly attacked and repelled by the excited bees, 

 from which they took refuge among the branches 

 of an oak growing near, and there manifested 

 their anxiety by notes and actions expressive of 

 extreme uneasiness. After having been severely 

 stung, the nestlings fluttered to the mouth of the 

 aperture, and dropped to the ground, where they 

 all perished, their bodies being much swollen. 

 In the next year the same birds returned, but 

 were again repelled by the bees, and, as if now 

 perceiving that all further attempts were useless, 

 took up their residence at no great distance from 

 the spot where this calamity had taken place the 

 year before. 



