176 A COUNTRY READER. 



must be fed, but fed very sparingly, during the 

 winter. 



The following is a good recipe : 5 Ibs. of best 

 sugar placed in a preserving pan ; add 2 pints 

 of water, place the pan on the fire, and stir. As 

 soon as the sugar is dissolved the food is ready. 

 I)o not let it boil. 



Water is necessary for bees, especially in the 

 spring-time. Let the water be placed in shallow 

 vessels so that the bees can drink without fear 

 of drowning. It is as well to place pieces of 

 cork in the water, from which the bees can 

 drink. 



Enemies. 



The sting of a bee does not seem to affect 

 ducks in the slightest degree. They will wait at 

 the entrance of a hive and gobble up the bees as 

 fast as they come out. 



Those beautiful little birds, the tits the 

 great-tit, the blue-tit, and the cole-tit will 

 often kill bees on the wing, and when dead 

 will eat them. 



The red-backed shrike very sensibly called 

 the butcher bird will catch the bees, and then 

 will stick or impale them on any bits of wire or 

 thorns that may be near the hive. 



Toads will watch at the entrance of a hive 



