132 CONDITIONS, ETC. 



HELPERS of the bees.* Coming back a step farther we 

 may say that the old maids are also indirect friends of 

 the humble bees, and indirect enemies of the field mice, 

 as they keep the cats which eat up the latter ! This 

 is an illustration somewhat beneath the dignity of the 

 subject, perhaps, but it occurs to me in passing, and 

 with it I will conclude this lecture. 



* The humble bees, on the other hand, are direct helpers of some 

 plants, such as the heartsease and red clover, which are fertilized by 

 the visits of the bees ; and they are indirect helpers of the numerous 

 insects which are more or less completely supported by the hearts- 

 ease and red clover. 



