144 HUMBLE CREATURES. 



and stung us, with every demonstration of anger. 

 At any other time we could approach the entrance 

 of the same hive with perfect security, protected only 

 by a sprig of wallflower, and we remained near 

 enough to be enabled to watch the ventilating Bees 

 in their operations inside of the hive. This proves 

 clearly that the anger of the Bees was excited by 

 the interference vdth their habitual proceedings ; but 

 whether they knew who was the disturber of their 

 peace, or simply attacked us as the nearest living ob- 

 ject, is a question that must be solved along with the 

 one already mentioned iu connexion with the anec- 

 dote of the Bee and the Wasp*. That their know- 

 ledge or psychical power, under such exceptional cir- 

 cumstances, cannot be very great, is certaiu from the 

 fact, that, although when about to swarm they send 

 out scouts to a considerable distance, and in their 

 search for honey they will fly several miles from their 

 habitation, yet they will not attack a person who has 

 deranged the economy of their hive as narrated 

 above, if he but remove to the distance of twenty or 

 thirty yards. 



And, furthermore, although many of the com- 

 pKcated actions of the Bee and other insects bear 

 evidences of discrimination and emotion, and are 



* One may form some conception of the mode in which the 

 Bees apprehend the relation between the stick across the en- 

 ti'ance of the hive and the living object standing by, if he 

 secretly abstract some favourite toy with which a very young 

 chUd is playing, and watch the effect in its actions and coun- 

 tenance. 



