3124 Entomological Society. 



I had been in this position for some time, little regarding the whizzing hum of in- 

 sects constantly passing and repassing — when, my gaze chancing to fall a yard or more 

 from my resting place, I detected a small bright-gray bee, about the third of an inch 

 in length, disappearing in what seemed a solid part of the trunk. 



" There was no hole or crevice perceptible to the eye, nor did that portion of the 

 bark feel less smooth than that immediately adjoining. I might be mistaken — nay ! 

 i" must be. I had just arrived at this last conclusion, when a tiny piece of the bark 

 was suddenly raised, and out flew the little gentleman I had seen disappear, or one 

 too like him not to belong to the same family. The mystery was solved. Some in- 

 genious bee architect had devised an entrance-gate, fitting so admirably as to defy 

 discovery when shut ; while I was certain that I could lay my finger almost on the 

 precise spot, the closest inspection failed to reveal any trace of its outline. The bark, 

 though polished and even, was covered with faint interlaced streaks, from which even 

 the smoothest bark is never free ; and the skilful carpenter had adapted the irregular 

 tracings of nature to his object of concealment. Wishing to inspect the workmanship 

 without injuring its delicacy, I had to wait patiently until it should again fly open ; 

 nor was I kept long in expectation, for it presently popped up to permit the egress of 

 another of the fraternity, and a ready twig prevented its descending. I found it de- 

 signedly crooked and jagged at the edges, with an average width of about a quarter of 

 an inch, and twice that in length : its substance was little more than the outer skin of 

 the bark, and, being still connected at one end, opened and closed as with a spring. 

 The cunning workman had no doubt been aware that had he made it much shorter — 

 which the size of the passengers would have permitted — it would have required to be 

 thrown farther back, when the greater tension would soon have destroyed the elas- 

 ticity of the hinge, and, with that, its power of fitting close to the tree. Immediately 

 within the doorway was a small ante-chamber, forming a sort of porter's lodge to the 

 little surly gray-liveried gentleman inside, who, without quitting his retreat, showed 

 his displeasure at my intrusion in a manner too pointed to be mistaken, and certainly 

 manifesting neither trepidation nor alarm at the sight of one of the ' lords of the 

 creation,' though probably the first offered to his inspection. From the entrance-hall, 

 two circular tunnels conducted into the interior of the establishment, from whence 

 came the confused murmurs of a numerous and busy community. I had just allowed 

 the door to close, and was admiring the exceeding neatness of the workmanship, when 

 another of the family returned home, signifying his arrival, and obtained admittance 

 in a manner at once novel and singular. 



" After darting against the entrance, and touching it with his feet, he rose again 

 into the air, and taking a wide swoop round the trunk, came up on the other side, this 

 lime, flying straight towards the " trap," which was quickly raised, when he was a few 

 inches distant, and, on his entering, as quickly closed. The office of the pugnacious 

 individual inside was explained; he was actually the door-keeper, and his returning 

 comrades, having, like any other modem gentlemen, politely rapped, circled out of the 

 observation of prying eyes, till he was prepared to admit them. Numbers were con- 

 stantly arriving, and all went through the process I have described, each flying away, 

 ;ifter knocking, in a different direction, but all allowing the same time to elapse 

 before returning for admission : — thus, the door was never opened save at the proper 

 moment. 



"After watching their proceedings for some time, I discovered the reason of their 

 not wailing quietly at the entrance. Sneaking among the stray leaves and rubbish in 



