HUMBLE-BEE "SENSING" A CAVITY 185 

 bee— which can only be witnessed at this 

 season— is that she is now in the act of 

 " sensing " the ground for a cavity in which 

 to construct her nest. In nine cases out of ten 

 she is unsuccessful— no such cavity exists ; in 

 that case the bee goes off elsewhere to resume 

 her quest. Thus the naturahst needs to have 

 patience. But his time will come ; sooner or 

 later he will be rewarded by seeing the bee, 

 after circling round, in the usual fashion, drop 

 on the ground and commence to crawl about 

 amongst the dead leaves and brambles. In 

 this event it may be concluded that she has 

 " sensed " a cavity, and is now endeavouring 

 to find an entrance to it. If the hollow space 

 hes close beneath the surface the bee forces 

 her way into it ; but if it should be deep down, 

 and there is no mouse's hole leading into it or 

 other means of access, she quits the spot and 

 flies off to hunt in another place. But in this 

 case it is always worth while to prod round 

 about the spot with some sharp-pointed instru- 

 ment, for the chances are that a hollow space 

 wiU be detected. 



These investigations, of course, involve 

 some trouble and a considerable amount of 

 patience, but the truth-seeker will not grudge 

 the time thus spent. 



If it were not for this sense perception which 



