CHAPTER XII 



THE HALICri: A PARASITE 



Y) O YOU know the Halicti ? Perhaps not. 

 -'-^ There is no great harm done: it is quite 

 possible to enjoy the few sweets of existence 

 without knowing the HaHcti. Nevertheless, 

 when questioned persistently, these humble 

 creatures with no history can tell us some very 

 singular things; and their acquaintance is not 

 to be disdained if we would enlarge our ideas 

 upon the bewildering swarm of this world. 

 Since we have nothing better to do, let us look 

 into the Plalicti. They are worth the trouble. 

 How shall we recognize them? They are 

 manufacturers of honey, generally longer and 

 slighter than the Bee of our hives. They con- 

 stitute a numerous group that varies greatly 

 in size and colouring. Some there are that 

 exceed the dimensions of the Common Wasp; 

 others might be compared with the House- 

 Fly, or are even smaller. In the midst of this 

 variety, which is the despair of the novice, 

 one characteristic remains invariable. Every 



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