120 FOOD OP BEES. 



257. "Mr. Knight once observed a shower of honey-dew 

 descending in innumerable small globules, ,near one of his oak 

 trees. He cut off one of the branches, took it into the house, 

 and, holding it in a stream of light admitted through a small 

 opening, distinctly saw the aphides ejecting the fluid from their 

 bodies with considerable force, and this accounts for its being 

 frequently found in situations where it could not have arrived 

 by the mere influence of gravitation. The drops that are thus 

 spurted out, unless interrupted by the surrounding foliage, or 

 some other interposing body, fall upon the ground; and the 

 spots may often be observed, for some time, beneath and around 

 the trees, affected with honey-dew, till washed away by the rain. 

 The power which these insects possess of ejecting the fluid 

 from their bodies, seems to have been wisely instituted to pre- 

 serve cleanliness in each individual fly, and, indeed, for the 

 preservation ■ of the family; for, pressing as they do upon one 

 another, they would otherwise soon be glued together, and ren- 

 dered incapable of stirring. On looking steadfastly at a group 

 of these insects {Aphides salids ) while feeding on the bark of 

 the willow, their superior size enabled us to perceive some of 

 them elevating their bodies and emitting a transparent sub- 

 stance in the form of a small shower: 



' ' Nor scorn ye now, fond elves, the foliage sear, 

 When the light aphids, arm'd witl^ puny spear, 

 Probe each emulgent vein, till bright below. 

 Like falling stars, clear drops of nectar glow." 



Evans. 



258. 'f Honey-dew usually appears upon the leaves as a vis- 

 cid transparent substance, as sweet as honey itself, sonietimes 

 in the form of globules, at others resembling a syrup. It is 

 generally most abundant from the middle of June to the middle 

 of July — sometimes as late as September. 



'-'It is found chiefly upon the oak, the elm, the maple, the 

 plane, the sycamore, the lime, the hazel, and the blackberry; 

 occasionally also the cherry, currant, and other fruit trees. 

 Sometimes only one species of trees is affected at a time. The 

 oak generally affords the largest quantity. At the season of its 

 greatest abundance, the happy, humming noise of the bees may 

 be heard at a considerable distance, sometimes nearly equalling 

 in loudness the united hum of swarming. ' ' — (Bevan.) 



