54 GUARDING THE TREASURE 



itself upon a wasp that it sees attempting to enter. 

 Clasped in each other's clinging feet, they roll 

 over and over on the ground, until usually the 

 wasp succeeds in stinging its adversary and flies 

 round for another attempt. I have seen hero 

 after hero perish in this manner from the attack 

 of one wasp, until at last, the wasp, having used 

 up all its poison for the time, either retires 

 vanquished or is overcome and slaughtered. 



Strangely enough, these combats are usually 

 single-handed. If two or more were to attack 

 the wasp at once, it would probably stand a poor 

 chance, but all the other sentries appear to take 

 not the least notice of the fray, and simply await 

 the issue. If the bee returns triumphant, it is 

 doubtless honoured accordingly. If the wasp 

 appears again, another sentry is detached to 

 tackle him. 



If a hive is weak and several wasps succeed in 

 getting honey from it, they will bring others to 

 the feast, until, if precautions are not taken, the 

 whole colony will be slaughtered and their stores 

 carried away. 



As soon as a change occurs in the weather which 

 indicates that winter is approaching, the nights 

 becoming colder and inroads on the stores 

 having to be commenced, another form of conflict 

 commences, this time of a very one-sided nature. 



The great hulking drones, who have, until now, 

 lived on the fat of the land and enjoyed life to 



