20 
with whicli they seal all crevices about the hive, 
to seclude air and insects. Some of them act the 
part of scavengers, by clearing every thing offen- 
sive from the hive ; such carcasses as are too large 
for them to remove they embalm, or cover with a 
thick layer of wax, or glue, under which they may 
remain, without causing any offensive effluvia. 
Such is the peculiar instinct of bees, that not a 
single inhabitant of another hive is allowed to ob- 
trude himself, but is seized on as a robber and in- 
stantly killed. Bees have a sort of language 
among themselves whereby they know each oth- 
ers’ wants ; as in feeding each other, &c. They 
also will sound the alarm when any thing disturbs 
them ; and such sounds will be instantly under- 
stood, and answered by the whole colony. If 
swarms are not immediately removed after they 
alight, messengers are sent to look a suitable dwell- 
ing place for the colony ; on their return the in- 
telligence is communicated to the colony, and such 
is their understanding, that the whole colony rise 
high into the air, and follow in a direct line with 
rapid flight, to the place selected by their com- 
rades; if no place is found suitable for a dwelling, 
they return at night, and another company are 
sent in search the next morning. If bees are not 
allowed to possess any thing analogous to reason, 
the regard for their queen, and the watchful care 
of their young, must result from some pleasurable 
sensations. 
After a particular season of the year, the drones 
are killed off, by those very workers, which for- 
merly watched over them so carefully in their 
cradles. 
It is in the months of July and August that this 
singular massacre is effected. Iluber, desirous of 
