388 THE PHILOSOPHY 



The Lacedemonians were allowed to kill fuch of their children as 

 were produced in a defedive or maimed ftate, becaufe they would be- 

 come a burden upon the community. The laws of the Chinefe per- 

 mit adtions equally inhuman. We perhaps know not all the reafons 

 why the neuter bees treat the males with fo much cruelty. There 

 is a time, however, when the males become perfectly ufelefs to the 

 community ; and it is not incurious to remark, that the general 

 maflacre never commences till this period arrives. Whenever a 

 ftranger bee enters a hive, his temerity is uniformly punifhed with 

 death. But mortal combats are not unfrequent between bees be- 

 longing to the fame hive. Thefe combats are raoft frequent in clear 

 and warm weather. Sometimes two combatants come out of the 

 hive clofely faftcned to each other. At other times the attack is 

 made in the air. But, in whatever way the battle begins, both com- 

 batants uniformly come to the ground before it is terminated by the 

 death of one of the parties. When they reach the ground, each 

 individual, like a v^'reftler, endeavours to gain the moft advanta- 

 geous pofition for flinging his adverfary to death. Sometimes, 

 though rarely, the fling is left in the wound. If this were general- 

 ly the cafe, every combat would prove fatal to two bees ; for the 

 vittor could not long furvive the lofs of his fting. Thefe battles 

 fometimes continue near an hour before one of the flies is left ex- 

 piring on the ground. 



Befide thefe fingle combats, general adlions are not unfrequent, 

 efpecially in the fwarming feafon. When two fwarms, or colonies, 

 happen to contend for the fame habitation, a general and bloody 

 engagement immediately enfues. Thefe engagements often continue 

 for hours, and never terminate without great havock on both fides. 

 The fting is not the only weapon employed in war by bees. They 

 are furnifhed with two ftrong fangs or teeth, with which they cruel- 

 ly tear each other. Even in general engagements, all the combats 



are 



