274 ENEMIES OP BEES. 



with the following beautiful translation of an old Greek poet's 

 address to the swallow. 



" Attic maiden, honey fed, 



Chirpiug warbler, bear'st away 

 Thou the busy buzzing bee, 



To thy callow brood a prey ? 

 Warbler, thou a warbler seize ? 



"Winged, one with lovely wings? 

 Guest thyself, by Summer brought. 



Yellow guests whom Summer brings ? 

 Wilt not quickly let it drop? 



'T is not fair, indeed 'tis wrong, 

 That the ceaseless warbler should 



Die by mouth of ceaseless song." 



Merivale's Translation. 



The toad is awell-known devourer of bees. Sitting before 

 51 hive, toward evening, he will seize many a late-returning 

 bee ; but as he is also a diligent consumer of various insects 

 injurious to the garden and nursery, he can plead equal 

 immunity with the insectiverous birds. 



It may seem amazing that birds and toads are able to swal- 

 low bees, without incurring the risk of death from their formid- 

 able stings. They seldom, however, meddle with any except 

 such as are returning fully laden with honey to their hives, 

 or being away from home, are more indisposed to resent an 

 injury. The bees are usually swallowed whole, and, as 

 they are not crushed, do not instinctively thrust out their 

 stings ; before they can recover from their surprise, they are 

 safely entombed, and speedly perish from the want of air. In 

 some cases, the bees taken from the crop of a king bird, have 

 been known to recover when exposed to the sun, and to fly 

 away apparently unharmed. 



My limits forbid me to speak at length of the other ene- 

 mies of the honied race : nor is it necessary. If the Apiarian 

 keeps his stocks strong, they will be their own best protectors, 

 and if he does not, they would be of little value, even though 



