EOBBEBIES. 145 



THEIR BATTLES. 



I will here deseribe some of their battles. I have 

 in the spring frequently seen the whole front side of 

 the hive covered with the combatants, (but for such 

 hives I have no fears; they are able to d.efend them- 

 selves.) Several will surround one stranger ; one or 

 two will bite its legs, another the wings ; another will, 

 make a feint of stinging, while another is ready to 

 ■ take what honey It has, when worried sufficient to 

 make it willing. It is sometimes allowed to go after 

 yielding all its honey, but at others, is dispatched with 

 a sting, which is almost instantly fatal. A bee is 

 killed sooner by a sting, than by any other means, 

 except crushing. Sometimes a leg will tremble, for a 

 minute ; the legs are drawn close to the body ; the 

 abdomen contracts to half its usual size, unless filled 

 with honey. I have known a pint accidentally to 

 enter a neighboring stock, ' and be killed in five 

 minutes. The only places the sting will penetrate a 

 bee are the joints of the abdomen, legs, the neck, &o. 

 I have occasionally seen one bee drag about the dead 

 body of its victim, being unable to withdraw its sting 

 from a joint in the leg. During the fight, if it be to 

 keep off those in search of plunder, a few bees may 

 be seen buzzing around in search of a place unguarded 

 to enter the hive. If such is found, it alights and 

 enters in a moment. At other times, when about to 

 enter, it meets a soldier on duty, and is on the wing 

 again in an instant. But another tiine it may be more 

 unfortunate, and be nabbed by a policeman, when it 

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