162 LIFE IN THE INSECT WORLD. 



subjects could be induced to eat, and, in about 

 five days, they were all dead. 



Harriet. Oh, the poor bees ! 



Mary. It seems to me they are almost as 

 knowing as people. 



Renei. Yes, and as loving, too. 



Aunt M. Their knowledge is very limited, 

 compared with ours, but they have enough to 

 answer all their purposes, and they appear to 

 make use of all they have. 



I will tell you another story. 



In a hive, in which there was a small family 

 of bees, the queen was seen lying on a piece of 

 honey comb, apparently dying. Six bees stood 

 around her, with their faces turned towards her, 

 their wings quivering, and their stings uncover- 

 ed, like soldiers with drawn swords. Honey 

 was offered to them, but they refused to taste it. 

 The queen died on the following day, but the 

 bees continued to guard her body ; and, al- 

 though supplied with honey, they gradually 

 pined, and died in a few days. 



A gentleman, named Wildman, used to per- 

 form wonderful feats with bees. He seemed to 

 be able to do any thing he pleased with them. 



