The HalictI : a Parasite 



thing untoward has occurred in the depths 

 where the llaHctus works. 



A tap on the Gnat's neck, if she become too 

 enterprising in the neighbourhood of the 

 cake: that is all that the lady of the house 

 seems to allow herself, to drive away the in- 

 truder. There is no serious affray between 

 the robber and the robbed. This is apparent 

 from the self-possessed manner and undam- 

 aged condition of the dwarf who returns from 

 visiting the giantess engaged down in the bur- 

 row. 



The Bee, when she comes home, whether 

 laden with provisions or not, hesitates, as I 

 have said, for a while; in a series of rapid 

 zigzags, she moves backwards, forwards and 

 from side to side, at a short distance from the 

 ground. This intricate flight at first suggests 

 the idea that she is trying to lead her persecu- 

 tress astray by means of an inextricable tan- 

 gle of marches and counter-marches. That 

 would certainly be a prudent move on the 

 Bee's part; but so much wisdom appears to be 

 denied her. 



It is not the enemy that Is disturbing her, 

 but rather the difficulty of finding her own 

 house amid the confusion of the mole-hill's en- 



381 



