4738 Insects. 



entirely deserted. I shall be anxious to see whether the lateness of 

 the spring will have any effect in retarding the arrival of our summer 

 birds of passage : there is such an intimate relation between vege- 

 tables and animals, as regards the means of subsistence, whether 

 directly or indirectly, through the insect world, that I can hardly ex- 

 pect to see them return punctually ; nevertheless, the first of them, the 

 cfoi&ch&ff (Sylvia hippolais), of whose advent I spoke in my last, made 

 himself very distinctly heard this morning, which is rather before the 

 average time. The behaviour of the fieldfares and redwings has 

 most puzzled me : it will be remembered that they made a second 

 migration early in February, and returned on the 28th : on that day and 

 the next (March 1st) large numbers were seen in our meadows, but 

 since then none all through the month, although these species do not 

 usually leave us till the middle of April. 



But the ornithologists' month par excellence has now commenced; 

 and its occurrences, to which I look with the liveliest interest, shall be 

 duly forwarded to the * Zoologist.' 



C. COLLINGWOOD. 

 Purley Park, April 1,1855. 



Toads long known to be Enemies of the Hive-Bee. — At the meeting of the Ento- 

 mological Society on the 5th of March last, I was much gratified by the observations 

 which were read on the animals destructive to hive-bees; but more particularly so 

 with Mr. Muskett's observation that *' it is no doubt well known that the common toad 

 will sit at the entrance of the hive and devour the bees, one after another, as they come 

 within reach of his tongue.'' This not only confirmed a similar statement made known 

 to the Society upwards of twelve months ago, but it appeared to treat the circumstance 

 as one well known to bee-keepers, or at least as one respecting which Mr. Muskett had 

 no doubt whatever ; but he proceeded to state, in his communication, a fact which did 

 appear singular — namely, that of the common woodpecker devouring bees in great 

 numbers at the mouth of the hive: this appeared to Mr. Muskett to be a new fact in 

 bee-history ; that of the toad was new and interesting to Mr.Westwood. Alas ! " there 

 is nothing new under the sun." I have before me a quaint old book intituled ' Profit 

 and Pleasure United ; or, the Husbandman's Magazine; being a Treatise on all kinds 

 of Domestic Cattle, on the Improvement of Land, and on Gardening: to which is 

 added Directions for the Encreasing and Preserving of Bees.' The latter part of this 

 title tells us at once that the author, " J. Smith, Gent.," was aware that they had 

 enemies : this we shall see presently was undoubtedly the fact of the case. The article 

 on the honey-bee is a very short one, but full of information ; it commences thus: — 

 " The Bee, though a small creature, and by many numbred amongst Insects, is ex- 

 treamly Advantagious to his Nurisher in returning abundance for the little he receives." 

 Our author, like a practical man, thoroughly earnest in his purpose, begins with direc- 

 tions for procuring your bees : to store yourself with bees, he says, there are three 

 manner of ways — "Buying them, Taking wild Swarms, or making them by Art:" 



