294 SUMMER. 



consist of a hundred or a thousand vile worms, whose 

 food is principally wax or comb. 



As the instinct of the flesh-fly directs her to a 

 putrid carcass to deposit her eggs, that her offspripg 

 may have their proper food, so the moth seeks the 

 hive containing combs, and where its natural food is 

 at hand to furnish a supply. During the day a rusty 

 brown miller, with its wings wrapped close around, the 

 body, may be often seen lying perfectly motionless on 

 the side of the hive on one corner, or the under edge 

 of the top, where it projects over — they are more fre- 

 quent at the corners than anywhere else, one-third 

 of their length projecting beyond it ; appearing much 

 like a sliver on the edge of a board that is somewhat 

 weather-beaten. Their color so closely resembles, old 

 wood, that I have no doubt tlieir enemies are often 

 deceived, and let them escape with their lives. As 

 soon as daylight shuts out the view, and no danger 

 of their movements being discovered by their enemies, 

 they throw off their inactivity, and commence search- 

 ing for a place to deposit their eggs, and woe to the 

 stock that has not bees sufficient to drive them from 

 the comb. Although their larvae has a skin that the 

 bee cannot pierce with its sting, in most cases, it is 

 not so with the moth, and of this fact they seem tp 

 be aware, for whenever a bee approaches they dart 

 away with speed ten times greater than that of any 

 bee, disposed to follow! They enter the hive and 

 dodge out in a moment, having either encountered a 

 bee, or fear they may do so. Now it needs no argu- 



