168 



PEEFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 



These apiarian battles are often fought in defence of the 

 property of the hive. Bees that are ill managed, and not 

 properly fed, instead of collecting for themselves, will now and 

 then get a habit of pillaging from their more industrious 

 neighbours : these are called by Schirach corsair bees, and by 

 English writers robbers. They make their attack chiefly in 

 the latter end of July, and during the month of August. At 

 first they act with caution, endeavouring to enter by stealth ; 

 and then, emboldened by success, come in a body. If one of 

 the queens be killed, the attacked bees unite with the assail- 

 ants, take up their abode with them, and assist in plundering 

 their late habitation. 1 Schirach very gravely recommends it 

 to apiarists whose hives are attacked by these depredators, to 

 give the bees some honey mixed with brandy or wine, to 

 increase and inflame their courage, that they may more reso- 

 lutely defend their property against their piratical assailants. 2 

 It is, however, to be apprehended that this method of making 

 them pot-valiant might induce them to attack their neighbours 

 as well as to defend themselves. 



Sometimes combats take place in which three or four bees 

 attack a single individual, not with a design to kill, but merely 

 to rob : one seizes it by one leg, another by another ; till 

 perhaps there are two on each side, each having hold of a leg ; 

 or they bite its head or thorax. But as soon as the poor ani- 

 mal that is thus haled about and maltreated unfolds its tongue, 

 one of the assailants goes and sucks it with its own, and is 



mentioned was placed, when they instantly darted down upon the hive of the 

 new settlers, and completely covered it : in a little time they began to enter the 

 hive, and poured into it in such numbers that it soon became completely filled. 

 A loud humming noise was heard, and the work of destruction immediately en- 

 sued ; the winged combatants sallied forth from the hive, until it became entirely 

 empty ; and a furious battle commenced in " upper air," between the besiegers 

 and the besieged. A spectator informs us, that these intrepid little warriors 

 were so numerous, that they literally darkened the sky over-head like a cloud ; 

 meanwhile the destructive battle raged with fury on both sides, and the ground 

 beneath was covered with the wounded and the slain : hundreds of them were 

 lying dead, or crawling about, disabled from reascending to the scene of action. 

 To one party, however, the palm of victory was at last awarded ; and they settled 

 upon the branch of an adjoining apple-tree, from which they were safely placed 

 in the empty hive, which had been the object of their valiant contention, and 

 where they now continue peacefully and industriously employed in adding to the 

 stores of their commonwealth. 



i Comp. Schirach, 49. Mills, 62. Thorley, 163. 2 51. 



