114 FABKE'S BOOK OF INSECTS 



to make her carry them into the cells that she will soon be 

 building. 



But in the meantime the future parasites must hold tight 

 to the fleece of their hostess, in spite of her rapid flights 

 among the flowers, in spite of her rubbing against the walls 

 of the galleries when she enters to take shelter, and in spite, 

 above all, of the brushing which she must often give herself 

 with her feet, to dust herself and keep spick and span. We 

 were wondering a little time ago what the dangerous, shifting 

 thing could be on which the grub would have to establish 

 itself. That thing is the hair of a Bee who makes a thousand 

 rapid journeys, now diving into her narrow galleries, now 

 forcing her way down the tight throat of a flower. 



We can now quite understand the use of the two spikes, 

 which close together and are able to take hold of hair more 

 easily than the most delicate tweezers. We can see the full 

 value of the sticky liquid that helps the tiny creature to hold 

 fast ; and we can realise that the elastic probes and bristles 

 on the legs serve to penetrate the Bee's down and anchor 

 the grub in position. The more one considers this arrange- 

 ment, which seems so useless as the grub drags itself labori- 

 ously over a smooth surface, the more does one marvel at 

 all the machinery which this fragile creature carries about 

 to save it from falling during its adventurous rides. 



Ill 



THE SECOND ADVENTURE 



One 21st of May I went to Carpentras, determined to see, 

 if possible, the entrance of the Sitaris into the Bees' cells. 



The works were in full swing. In front of a high expanse 

 of earth a swarm of Bees, stimulated by the sun, was dancing 

 a crazy ballet. From the tumultuous heart of the cloud rose 

 a monotonous, threatening murmur, while my bewildered 

 eye tried to follow the movements of the throng. Quick as 



