NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BEE. 



GO 



can immediately begin to eat, for their food is ready 

 at hand. 



As another instance of the same provision of 

 nature, it may be mentioned that, in the case of a 

 certain insect, it is necessary that its eggs should be 

 carried by some means into the stomach of a horse. 

 The insect itself cannot get there to lay its eggs, but 

 it is managed in this way. The insect selects a spot 

 for its eggs which it is likely the horse will lick, — it 

 may be the horse's leg ; and the horse thus unknow- 

 ingly takes the eggs into its mouth, whence they 

 pass to the stomach ; and the object of the insect is 

 accomplished. 



CHAPTER XVII. 



THE N.-U'URAL HISTORY OF THE UEE— CONTINUED. 



In the case of the bee the process of transformation 

 is as follows, and may be seen and traced in the 

 following illustration. 



Egg and larvce of the bee. 



