CHAP. X. GENEROSITY OF HUMBLE BEES. 357 



through the leafy calyx, by which that part is protected, 

 that they may insert their long proboscis into the nec- 

 tary, or that particular part of a flower in which Nature 

 deposits her natural honey-drops. 



(360.) Generosity is a virtue among insects scarcely 

 to be expected; yet M. Huber relates the fallowing 

 singular anecdote, which leaves no doubt that such a 

 feeling is known to the humble bees. He observed 

 some hive bees paying a visit to a neighbouring nest of 

 their humble brethren, in order, as he says, either to 

 steal or beg their honey. This happened at a time of 

 scarcity; and the result showed a wonderful good tem- 

 per in the disposition of the humble bees. The hive 

 bees appear to have piUaged, rather than to have soli- 

 cited, food; for they had taken almost entire possession 

 of the nest. Some of the humble bees, which remained 

 in spite of this disaster, went out to collect provisions ; 

 and, bringing home the surplus after they had supplied 

 their own immediate wants, the hive bees followed them, 

 and did not quit them till they had obtained the fruit of 

 their labours. For this purpose they licked them, pre- 

 sented to them their proboscis, surrounded them, and 

 thus, at last, by repeated solicitations, persuaded them 

 to part with the contents of their honey-bags. After 

 this, the generous humble bees flew away, to collect, 

 once more, another supply of food. M. Huber asserts 

 that, during this scene, the hive bees never once showed 

 their stings ; so that it was obviously persuasion, and 

 not force, that produced this singular instance of self- 

 denial. This remarkable manoeuvre was practised for 

 more than three weeks, when, the wasps being at- 

 tracted by the same cause (the scarcity of food, we are 

 to presume), the humble bees entirely forsook the nest. 

 The workers among this family, although constituting 

 the most numerous portion of the community, are much 

 less numerous than those in a nest of either wasps or 

 honey bees. They seldom exceed 200 or 300 ; and 

 those of some species, which live in comparatively small 

 societies, do not amount to more than fifty or sixty. 



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