ENEMIES OF BEES. 331 



I find him picking up only young and immature bees, such 

 as are thrown out from the combs. They may be seen 

 about the apiary, as soon as the first rays of light make 

 objects visible, looking for their morning supply, as well 

 as frequently during the day. Should an unlucky worm 

 be in sight just then, looking up a place to spin a cocoon, 

 or a moth be reposing on some corner of the hive, its fate 

 is at once decided. Before destroying this bird, it would 

 be well to judge from actual observation of the truth of 

 the charges against him, else we may "destroya friend 

 instead of a foe." 



THE TOAD. 



A toad is discovered near the hives, and is forthwith 

 executed as a bee-eater. Says one — " he ought to be killed 

 for his looks, if nothing else." He is thus often sacrificed 

 really on account of his appearance, on the nominal pre- 

 tence that he is a villain. After he is despatched, the com- 

 plaint is made that the bugs that he might have destroyed, 

 "have eaten- up all the little cucuriibers and cabbages!" 

 His food is probably small insects. I had strong doubts 

 of his being a bee-eater for a long time after the first edi- 

 tions of this work were published, notwithstanding the 

 positive assurance by some of my bee-keeping friends, that 

 he was guilty. I watched closely for" yeai-s, without dis- 

 covering anything to confirm the assertion. At last, one 

 dark, cloudy day, when but few bees were stirring, I 

 found a corpulent fellow perched upon a stand, close to 

 the entrance, seeming very much at home, and gazing at 

 nothing with the most stupid indifierence. A bee lit be- 

 side him, when after a slight motion of the eye, his mouth 

 opened, and closed like a fiash of lightning. The bee was 

 -gone! — his long fiexible tongue had deposited it beyond 

 the reach of help. 



Again he was motionless, and mute as a stone, waiting 



