A FAIRY FAUNA 69 



small inaudible sounds of nature, you would doubtless 

 hear him exclaiming with indistinct utterance, " Go 

 'way ; for goo'ness sake don't 'sturb me ; lemme be — 

 I'm a' right." 



It is noticeable that even in his cups he never 

 wholly loses the characteristic dignity of manner 

 coupled with gentleness we so greatly admire in him. 

 There may be in his order creatures equally intelli- 

 gent, but morally, or at all events in manner, he is 

 decidedly their superior. So peaceable and mild in 

 disposition is he, so regardful of the rights of others, 

 even of the meanest, that he will actually give place 

 to a fly coming to feed at the same flower. It is on 

 this account that, alone among insects, the humble-bee 

 is universally regarded with esteem and affection. In 

 his virtues, and in all that is best in him, he is very 

 human. It is therefore not strange, during a late 

 walk, when we bid good-night and good-bye to the 

 darkening downs, that it grieves us a little to find so 

 estimable an insect in such a plight. 



We often say, and it is easily said, that this or 

 that animal is human-like ; but if the truth could be 

 known about such matters we should probably find 

 that the social humble-bee, with all his virtues, is just 

 as far removed from us as any other creature with an 

 articulated cylindrical body. It is sad to think, or so 

 it appears to me after a day agreeably spent on the 

 downs in the society of this small people, that in spite 

 of all our prying into nature's secrets, all our progress 



