The Young Queens 



instance that will not take us too far from 

 our bees, I know of no instance more 

 striking than that of the triongulins of the 

 Sitaris colletes. And it will be seen that, 

 in many details, this story is less foreign 

 to the history of man than might perhaps 

 be imagined. 



These triongulins are the primary larvae 

 of a parasite proper to a wild, obtuse- 

 tongued, solitary bee, the Colletes, which 

 builds its nest in subterranean galleries. 

 It is their habit to lie in wait for the bee 

 at the approach to these galleries ; and 

 then, to the number of three, four, five, 

 or often of more, they will' leap on her 

 back, and bury themselves in her hair. 

 Were the struggle of the weak against the 

 strong to take place at this moment there 

 would be no more to be said, and all would 

 pass in accordance with universal law. 

 But, for a reason we know not, their in- 

 stinct requires, and nature has consequently 

 275 



