ENEMIES OF BEES. 263 



keep her out. She will pass by other colonies to get at the 

 queenless one, as though she knew that she would there find 

 all the necessary conditions for the proper development of 

 her young. 



Among the many mysteries in the insect world, is the 

 manner in which the moth arrives at so correct a knowledge 

 of the condition of the queenless hives in an Apiary. It is 

 certain that such hives very seldom maintain a guard about 

 the entrance, and that they do not fill the air with the pleas- 

 ant voice of happy industry ; for, even to our dull ears, the 

 difference between the hum of the prosperous hive, and the 

 unhappy note of the despairing one, is sufficiently obvious : 

 may it not be even more so to the acute senses of the 

 provident mother, seeking a proper place for the development 

 of her young .' 



The unerring sagacity of the moth, closely resembles that 

 peculiar instinct by which the vulture, and oiher birds that 

 prey upon carrion, are able to single out from the herd, a 

 diseased animal, following it, with their dismal croakings, 

 hovering over its head, or sitting in ill-omened flocks, on 

 the surrounding trees, watching it as its life ebbs away, and 

 stretching out their filthy and naked necks, and opening and 

 snapping their blood-thirsty beaks, that they may be all ready 

 to tear out its eyes just glazing in death, and banquet on its 

 flesh still warm with the blood of life I Let any fatal acci- 

 dent befall an animal, how soon will you see them, first from 

 one quarter of the heavens, and then from another, — 



" First a speck and then a Vulture," 



speeding their eager flight to their destined prey, when only 

 a short time before, not a single one could be seen or heard. 

 I have repeatedly seen powerful colonies speedily de- 

 voured by the worms, because of the loss of their queen, 



