160 MINUTE MARVELS OF NATURE 



larger animals, as the parasite of the humble-bee 

 shown in Figs. 105 and 106 will prove. The 

 humble-bee from which this was taken alighted 

 one day on the window-frame of the workroom of 



Fig. 105. Parasite from a humble-bee, one of 

 seventy-four taken from one bee 



the writer, who, being accustomed to the habits of 

 these insects, took little time to realise that some- 

 thing was amiss. The bee was performing some 

 extraordinary gymnastics ; it seemed to be endea- 

 vouring to place its hind feet in the centre of its 

 back, which for the bee is the most difficult portion 

 of its anatomy to reach comfortably. Those who 



