A WALK THROUGH AN ENGLISH LANE. 87 



large size, easily obtained ; and in a single nest 

 examples may be found of the various states of this 

 bee, from the little white grub to the perfect insect of 

 either sex. 



One curious story must yet be told of this subter- 

 ranean home. Within the nest there are sometimes 

 found a few white grubs, clearly not those of the 

 humble-bee, as they are larger, straighter, and have a 

 row of spikes set around the larger end. If you manage 

 to remove the nest and put it into a box, so as to keep 

 its inmates prisoners, the mystery will be solved, in 

 time, by the appearance of some flies exceedingly re- 

 sembling the humble-bee, but belonging to a different 

 order of insects having only two wings instead of 

 four. This is one of the beautiful hovering flies, scien- 

 tifically termed a volucella, the young of which finds 

 its food within the nests of these bees. The humble- 



* 



bees are quite aware of the injury to their community 

 which results from the intrusion of the volucella, and 

 are extremely vigilant in their watch to prevent its 

 intrusion. But the intruder is so like the insect into 

 whose house it hopes to make its way, that the two 

 can hardly be discerned from each other at a little dis- 

 tance ; and so the volucella contrives to take advantage 

 of an unguarded moment, slips by the sentries, and 

 deposits her eggs. Having once succeeded in perform- 

 ing this feat, she cares no longer for her own safety, 

 but walks boldly out of the nest as if she had a perfect 



