LETTEES FROM ALABAMA^ 
143 
come out, but sets up a shrill, ringing hum, 
which is very different from the common grave 
sound, and which every one must have noticed in 
any species of bee when touched. It was this sound, 
made by this identical bee, that the boy so felici- 
tously designated hollering.” ^ This by the way. 
One day I was surprised to see another bee of the 
same kind go into the hole while the owner was 
at home and at work ; and even when she found 
it was pre-occupied she did not seem very willing 
to relinquish it. I should infer from this circum- 
stance, as well as from the readiness with which 
the second bee appropriated it, on the death of the 
first, that they do not undergo the labour of exca- 
vating when they can find a cell already prepared. 
And I have seen other instances of insects ap- 
parently wishing to avoid unnecessary labour. 
Those species which thus drill round holes in 
wood, for the purpose of obtaining a secure and 
commodious nidus for their young, are appropri- 
ately called Carpenter-Bees. 
The Sassafras-tree [Laurus sassafras) is ex- 
ceedingly common in the forest, principally in 
places where the light has free access. It some- 
times grows to a tree of considerable size, but not 
very often. It is very beautiful as a bush or shrub, 
the leaves being of pleasing shape, and of a lively 
green hue, while the fruit is highly ornamental. 
It is an oval berry of a brilliant blue, seated in 
a shallow cup of a bright red hue at the end of a 
long footstalk. These are now appearing ; the 
flowers, which are said to be yellow, I have not 
seen, as the plant blossoms very early, even before 
the leaves are developed. The latter are sometimes 
* Vide supra, p. 109. 
