The Life of the Bee 
ordained, that they should hold them- 
selves tranquil so long as they remain on 
the back of the bee. They patiently bide 
their time while she visits the flowers, and 
constructs and provisions her cells. But 
no sooner has an egg been laid than they 
all spring upon it; and the innocent col- 
letes carefully seals down her cell, which 
she has duly supplied with food, never 
suspecting that she has at the same time 
ensured the death of her offspring. 
The cell has scarcely been closed when 
the triongulins grouped round the egg 
engage in the inevitable and salutary com- 
bat of natural selection. The stronger, 
more agile, will seize its adversary be- 
neath the cuirass, and, raising it aloft, will 
maintain it for hours in its mandibles until 
the victim expire. But, while this fight 
is in progress, another of the triongulins, 
that had either no rival to meet, or already 
has conquered, takes possession of the 
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