The Glow-Worm and Other Beetles 



ballet. It is a hover of Anthophorae, a few 

 feet thick and covering an area which matches 

 the sort of house-front formed by the per- 

 pendicular soil. From the tumultuous heart 

 of the cloud rises a monotonous, threatening 

 murmur, while the bewildered eye strays 

 through the inextricable evolutions of the 

 eager throng. With the rapidity of a light- 

 ning-flash thousands of Anthophorae are in- 

 cessantly flying off and scattering over the 

 country-side in search of booty; thousands of 

 others also are incessantly arriving, laden 

 with honey or mortar, and keeping up the 

 formidable proportions of the swarm. 



I was at that time something of a novice 

 as regards the nature of these insects: 



" Woe," said I to myself, " woe to the 

 reckless wight bold enough to enter the heart 

 of this swarm and, above all, to lay a rash 

 hand upon the dwellings under construction ! 

 Forthwith surrounded by the furious host, 

 he would expiate his rash attempt, stabbed by 

 a thousand stings ! " 



At this thought, rendered still more alarm- 

 ing by the recollection of certain misadven- 

 tures of which I had been the victim when 

 seeking to observe too closely the combs of 

 the Hornet {Vespa crabro), I felt a shiver 

 of apprehension pass through my body. 

 68 



