ENEMIES OF THE BEE 119 
edge across the entrance will often serve to 
frighten the birds off. 
Another bird that raids directly on bees 
is the flycatcher, one of the migratory birds 
which come here for breeding purposes. Their 
usual swooping movement when catching 
insects on the wing is not practised when 
bees are their objective. It would seem that 
they avoid bees when flying. When raiding 
them, the bird alights at the back of the hive, 
and rushing under the alighting board, gathers 
up as many bees as he can from the ground 
in front of the hive. 
It is quite possible that flycatchers could 
account for many a missing virgin queen. 
The Toad.—Perhaps it is hardly right to 
class the toad as an enemy to the bee, seeing 
that the bulk of its food consists of insects 
that are injurious—either directly or through 
their larve—to vegetable or plant life. But, 
inasmuch as it varies its diet with bees when 
they can be obtained, we have included it in 
this list. 
