206 ENEMIES OF BEES. 



out the hive," says Reaumur, " and bees within ; 

 a single glass only separating two nations, so dif- 

 ferent in manners, in customs, and genius. The 

 bees were abundantly provided with a dainty of 

 which ants are exceedingly fond, I mean honey. 

 The ants had j ust reason to be apprehensive that 

 the bees would be uneasy, and jealous to preserve 

 so precious a treasure. Nevertheless the utmost 

 harmony and concord prevailed between the tw r o 

 nations. Not a single ant was tempted to enter 

 the hive, how strongly soever she might be invited 

 by the fragrance of the honey ; nor did any bee 

 disturb the ants, though superior to them in 

 power ; the several individuals, on each side, 

 went in and out peaceably ; they would meet in 

 the way without teazing or molesting one another : 

 respect on one side, and complacency on the other, 

 were the foundation of this peace." Nat. History 

 of Bees, p. 352. 



The destruction of queen rvasps and queen hornets 

 in the spring, and of wasps' and hornets' nests in the 

 summer, will prove the best security against those 

 formidable enemies. None but queen wasps and 

 queen hornets appear in the spring. Everyone which 

 is then annihilated would probably have been the 

 founder of a kindred colony, and every colony of 

 wasps at a moderate computation may be calculated 

 to produce at least 30,000 in a season. These de- 

 stroyers may often be watched to their homes and 



