302 INSECT LIFE 



XXI 



If any one should reproach me for my clumsy 

 handling, I would suggest that he make the experi- 

 ment, and then judge how far the situation was 

 pleasant. 



In short, either from the fatigue of the journey, 

 or because I pressed too hard and injured some 

 articulations, out of my forty Hymenoptera only 

 twenty flew off strongly and unhesitatingly ; the rest 

 strayed over the herbage near at hand, unable to 

 keep their balance, or remained on the willows 

 where I had put them, refusing to fly even when 

 excited by a straw. These faint-hearted ones, these 

 maimed ones, these incapables hurt by my fingers, 

 must be struck off the list. Twenty started with an 

 unhesitating flight. That was amply sufficient. 



At the moment of departure there was nothing 

 special in the direction taken — nothing of that 

 straight line to the nest which the Cerceris took in 

 a like case. As soon as they were free the 

 Chalicodoma fled scared — one in this direction, one 

 to a completely opposite point ; but, as far as their 

 fiery flight allowed, I think I saw a rapid return of 

 those bees which had flown in the wrong direction 

 for their nests, and most seemed to go to that side 

 of the horizon. I leave this point with the doubts un- 

 avoidable with regard to insects lost sight of at some 

 twenty metres distance. So far the experiment had 

 been favoured by calm weather, but now things grew 

 complicated. The heat was stifling, and the sky 

 grew stormy. Rather a strong wind rose, blowing 

 from the south — the very direction which my bees 

 should take to return home. Could they overcome 

 this contrary current and cleave this aerial torrent 



