SCIENTIFIC ILLUSTRATIONS [Agg 



An Example for Human Aggressors. 



It sometimes happens that the bees of an impoverished hive, 

 impelled by hunger, make up their minds to attack and pillage 

 a neighbouring hive which is well stocked with provisions. 

 Reaumur relates a strange fact which, he says, he has often 

 observed, and which proves that the bees do not fight to satisfy 

 a sanguinary and savage instinct, but (which is less reprehensible) 

 to satisfy their hunger. Bees attacked by a superior force are 

 in no danger of losing their lives if their enemies can induce 

 them to give up their throats that expression conveys the idea. 

 Supposing three or four are previously attacking one bee : they 

 are pulling it by its legs, and biting it on its thorax. The 

 unfortunate object of this attack has then nothing better to do, 

 to escape alive from such a perilous situation, than to stretch out 

 its trunk laden with sweet-scented honey. The plunderers will 

 come one after the other and drink the honey ; then, cloyed, 

 satisfied, having nothing more to demand, they go their way, 

 leaving the bee to return to his dwelling-place. In the latter 

 part of their proceedings they set a good example to human 

 aggressors who, when they rob their fellow-men of their property 

 and country, are not content with taking that only which they 

 absolutely require. If all human aggressors emulated the bee, 

 and never attacked or sought to obtain the goods of others 

 excepting when absolutely pressed by hunger, the villainy of the 

 world would be very considerably diminished. L 



Fortune is Fickle to Aggressors. ^i 



The sea eagles (Pytliargus) are bold enough to attack even 

 the seal. As they cannot lift him, they cling to his back and 

 force him ashore by means of their wings. But having buried 

 its claws deeply in its prey, it is often buried by its own 

 audacity, for the large seals are sometimes strong enough to dive 

 and drag their foe under water, where, being unable to dis*- 

 engage its talons, it is compelled to stay and meet a miserable 

 death. Here, in the language of Horace, we have the pleasure 

 of seeing " Fortune quitting the proud, and returning to the 

 wretched." The seal is one of the most harmless and intelli- 

 gent of animals, and the attack made upon it by the rapacious 



