293 



ELEVENTH CHAPTER. 



ON THE ENEMIES OF BEES. 



BEES, A GREAT NUMBER OP ENEMIES — PRECAUTIONS TO BE USED AGAINST 

 THE COMMON AND THE FIELD MOUSE — SIGNS OP THE RAVAGES OF THE 



MOUSE ERRONEOUS METHOD OP PLACING THE HIVES, THE CAUSE OF 



THEIR DESTRUCTION — THE SNAIL, A VILE ENEMY OF THE BEE — -THE 

 SINGLE PEDESTAL THE BEST PREVENTIVE AGAINST THE ATTACK OF 



ENEMIES — THE WINTER, THE SEASON FOR THE ATTACK OF THE MOUSE 



CONSTRUCTION OP A MOUSE TRAP — SPIDER WEBS TO BE REMOVED PROM 

 THE VICINITY OF THE APIARY — DEFECTS OF THE COTTAGE HIVE IN 

 ASCERTAINING THE ATTACK OF INSECTS — THE WASP, A FORMIDABLE 

 ENEMY OF THE BEE — OPINION OF REAUMUR — STATEMENT OF MENDEZ 

 DE TORRES (NOTE) — THE DESTRDCTION OF THE MOTHER WASP STRONGLY 

 RECOMMENDED— METHOD OF DESTROYING A WASP'S NEST — ADVANTAGE 

 OP PLASTERING THE HIVE TO THE PEDESTAL — INJURIOUS PRACTICE OF 

 HANGING BOTTLES IN THE VICINITY OF THE APIARY — THE ANT, A 

 GREAT ENEMY OF THE BEE — THE TOAD — THE FIELD BAT — ADVICE OF 

 PEBURIER— CONSTRUCTION OF A RAT TRAP — BIRDS, GREAT ENEMIES TO 

 BEES — THE WOODPECKER— THE TOM TIT — THE SWALLOW — THE WAX MOTH 



SIGNS OF THE ATTACK OP THE WAX MOTH — DESCRIPTION OF THE WAX 



MOTH — ACCOUNT OF THE MANNER IN WHICH IT DESTROYS THE COMBS 



SEASON OF ITS APPEARANCE — OPINION OF THE FRENCH APIARIANS — 

 METHOD OF LOMBARD FOR DESTROYING THE WAX MOTH — THE DEATH- 

 HEAD MOTH — ITS EFFECT ON THE BEES FORTIFICATIONS, ACCORDING 



TO HUBER, ERECTED BY THE BEES — CONFIRMED BY MR. LOMBARD — BEES 

 INFECTED WITH LICE — DOUBTS OP THEIR INJURY TO THE BEES — THE BEAR 

 — THE FOX — THE BADGER — SAGACIOUS PLAN OF THE BEAR TO OBTAIN 

 POSSESSION OF A HIVE — ANECDOTE OF A FOX BY MR. DUCARNE — THE 

 PIGS A DANGEROUS ENEMY TO HIVES — A LITTER OF PIGS STUNG TO DEATH 

 — THE LIZARD — THE NEWT — PLAN ADOPTED BY L'ABBE DELLA ROCCA POR 

 THEIR DESTRUCTION — GENERAL REMARKS. 



There are amongst the animal tribe, few creatures who 

 have a greater number of formidable enemies than the bees. 

 Notwithstanding their sting, so dreaded by the greatest of 

 all their enemies, man, and which in many instances is so 

 effectual for their defence, there are amongst the feathered 

 tribe many, which swallow the bees whole, or they appear 

 to make it a matter of amusement to kill them and then to 

 pick the bodies to pieces, without apparently appropriating 

 any part of them to the purpose of food. Amongst the insects 

 there are many, which are their superiors in strength, who 



