230 EXEMIES or BEES. 



was impossible to distinguish workers from drones. We 

 are told of great numbers of workers being thus found. 

 It may be so, or it may be thus represented by prejudice. 

 The brutal desire of taking life is so strong with some, 

 that a morbid antipathy is allowed to take the place of 

 justice, and a proper defence is not allowed in cases where 

 the suffering party has not the power to enforce it. If the 

 king-bird devoured workers instead of drones, why does 

 he not visit the apiary long before noon, and fill his crop 

 with them ? But instead, he waits until afternoon ; if no 

 drones are flying, he watches quietly till one appears, al- 

 though workers may be out by. hundreds. If it is asked 

 how they distinguish them, I would suggest that instinct, 

 which teaches most animals the proper kinds of food, 

 might direct the birds in this case. 



CHICKBIIS WILL EAT DRONES. 



I have seen chickens which would stand by the hive and 

 devour every drone, as soon as he touched the board, 

 while workers would pass in scores untouched. Whether 

 this loss of the drones is a disadvantage or otherwise, de- 

 pends entirely upon circumstances. If there is a scarcity 

 of honey, the fewer drones the better. It is a matter of 

 so little importance to the bees, that it would probably not 

 pay for powder to shoot the depredators. 



Martins, and a kind of swallow, are said to be guilty of 

 taking bees on some occasions, but as they pursue them 

 on the wing, the remarks concerning the king-bird are ap- 

 plicable to them. 



OAT-BIBD ACQUITTED. 



The cat-bird also comes in for a share of censure. It is 

 said "he will get right down by the hive, and pick up 

 bees by the hundred." Yet, in the face of this charge, I 

 am disposed to acquit him. With the closest observation, 



