70 CONVERSATIONS ON 



wall of a coal-house, where the bricks and 

 mortar were left rough : she was at work be- 

 tween two of the bricks where the mortar 

 had fallen out, or where the bee had taken it 

 out. And the conduct of the bee at her house 

 was very different from what it was at the 

 clay-bank. She was not frightened, but went 

 on working when any one came near the 

 clay-bank ; but at her house she seemed afraid 

 that it should be found out where it was. 

 She would alight first on the roof outside, as 

 if she merely wished to rest herself; and 

 when she flew into the coal-house she would 

 not go directly to her nest, but would set- 

 tle on a shelf, and sometimes pretend to be 

 examining a great many places in the wall 

 between different bricks ; and at last, when 

 she supposed there was no risk, or when there 

 was nothing to alarm her, she would fly to 

 her nest, and go to work with all her might 

 in fixing her piece of clay to the wall." 



" Why did she wish her house not to be 

 found out, Uncle Philip ?" 



" Mr. Rennie supposed it was her instinct : 

 she had seen probably some of the insects 

 which would destroy her young, watching her 

 to see where she was building ; and sometimes 



