INSTINCTS OF BEES. 427 



booty, and experienced no further molestation from the 

 wind." 



" A German artist of strict veracity, slates, that in his 

 journey through Italy, he was an eye witness to the follow- 

 ing occurrence. He observed a species of Scarabaus busily 

 engaged in making, for the reception of its egg, a pellet of 

 dung, which when finished, the insect rolled to the summit 

 of a hillock, and repeatedly suffered it to tumble down the • 

 slope, apparently for the purpose of consolidating the pellet, 

 by the adhesion of earth to it in its rotating motion. During 

 this process, the pellet unluckily fell into a hole, out of 

 which the beetle was unable to extract it. After several 

 ineffectual attempts, the insect went to an adjoining heap of 

 dung, and soon returned with three companions. All four 

 applied their united strength to the pellet, and at length suc- 

 ceeded in pushing it out, when the three assistant beetles left 

 the spot, and returned to their own quarters." (Kirby and 

 Spence.) 



In one of my observing hives, admitting of only a single 

 comb, T once fastened a piece of comb, on ihe hoildm instead 

 of the top, to serve as a guide for the bees. In carrying up 

 this comb towards the roof of the hive, the bees soon became 

 aware of a serious difficulty resulting from its unusual po- 

 sition. In building combs downwards, (which they in- 

 variably do, unless in some way prevented,) as their works 

 hang plumb, to secure them against the risk of falling, they 

 have only to make their attachments sufficiently firm ; but in 

 building upwards, it is next to impossible to prevent a new 

 comb, heavy with honey, bees, brood and pollen, and soft- 

 ened by the animal heat of the workerSj^from losing its per- 

 pendicular position, and falling against the sides of the hive. 

 To guard against such a catastrophe, my bees in enlarging 



