WILD LIFE IN A SOUTHERN COUNTY. 205 



chance at the time to be out in the fields collecting 

 honey, upon their return, finding their home gone, are 

 evidently at a loss. They fly round, hovering about 

 over the spot for a long time before they discover the 

 fresh position of the hive. 



The great hornet, with its tinge of reddish orange, 

 comes through the garden sometimes with a heavy 

 buzz, distinguishable in a moment from the sound of 

 any other insect. All country folk believe the hornet's 

 sting to be the most poisonous and painful of any, and 

 will relate instances of persons losing the use of their 

 arms for a few days in consequence of the violent 

 inflammation. Sometimes the hornet selects for its 

 nest an aperture in an old shed near the farmhouse. 

 I have seen their nests quite close to houses ; but 

 unless wantonly disturbed, there is not the slightest 

 danger from them, or indeed from any other insects 

 of this class. I think the common hive-bees are the 

 worst tempered of any they resent the slightest 

 interference with their motions. The hornet often 

 chooses an old hollow withy pollard for the site of 

 its nest. 



In the orchard there is at least one nest of the 

 humble-bee, made at a great depth in a deserted 

 mouse's hole. These bees have eaten away and 

 removed the grass just round the entrance, so as to 

 get a clear road in and out. They are as industrious 

 as the hive bee ; but as there are not nearly so many 

 working together in one colony, they do not store up 

 anything approaching to the same quantity of honey. 



