LIFE IN THE INSECT WORLD. 163 



He could make them settle on his head, or his 

 arm, or hang from his chin like a beard ; and 

 then command them to 'leave him, and alight 

 somewhere else. Those who were present, and 

 saw these things, could not comprehend them. 

 It really appeared as if the bees understood his 

 language. 



But Wildman himself explains the whole 

 mystery. He found that when he turned up a 

 hive, and made a few taps on the bottom and 

 sides, the queen would immediately appear. He 

 knew her instantly, and catching her tenderly in 

 one hand, he carefully slipped her into the other, 

 and held her until the bees, missing her, were 

 all in confusion, and flying about in search of 

 her. He would then place her in view, either 

 on his head, or his arm, or any where he pleas- 

 ed, knowing the bees would immediately collect 

 around her, and, in this way, he could make 

 them follow wherever he chose to lead them. 



Harriet. I suppose he was careful to con- 

 ceal the queen from the people who were look- 

 ing on. 



Jiunt M. No doubt he tried to do so ; and, 

 in order to make it appear still more wonderful 



