ENEMIES* , 177 



CHAP. XXIII. 



ENEMIES OF BEES. 



&L 



ANY, various, and powerful are the 

 enemies and deftroyers of thefe induftrious 

 and beneficial infects. But a little timely- 

 care and attention would prevent or greatly 

 diminifh their depredations. 



The Wood-pecker^ or Tree-creeper, feizes 

 the bees as they are gathering farina off the 

 fallows in the fpring. Robins and fparrows 

 will boldly wait at the hive door, and catch 

 them as they come out; and fundry birds 

 fei-ze them in their Jligbt. 



Poultry are very prejudicial to bees, by 

 catching them as they pafs in or out of their 

 hives J and their dung is a great nuifance 

 to them. 



Mice get into the hives by the large and 

 deep gaps made for door-ways in common 

 hives readily admitting them in winter, to 

 the deftruttion of the ftock. They often 

 alfo make a lodgment and breed under the 

 N . crown 



